In 2022, about one in six Russians, roughly 17%, faced difficulties affording essential items like food, clothing, or footwear. This finding comes from a report by the News outlet, which cited data from the Higher School of Economics (HSE) Civil Society and Nonprofit Sector Research Center. The figures illustrate a persistent strain on household budgets even in a country with a wide geographic and demographic mix. Across the population, 4% admitted they could not afford enough food and 13% could not cover adequate clothing or shoes. By comparison, in 2019 a larger share reported money shortages for food and clothing, with about 7% and 16% respectively, indicating shifts over time in consumer hardship that researchers have tracked alongside inflation and wage trends.
Researchers note that the burden falls most heavily on older adults. Irina Mersiyanova, director of the HSE Research Center, observed a rise in complaints about basic needs among seniors, with 27% of older respondents reporting insufficient funds for food, clothing, and footwear. This highlights an aging demographic that may be more vulnerable to economic shocks and price volatility in essential goods.
Household expense patterns also reveal a deep reliance on a large portion of income for basic sustenance. A quarter of surveyed families reported that two-thirds of their earnings went toward food, and about one in ten families allocated nearly all of their income to this category. These proportions show a heavy compression of discretionary spending, a situation that has fluctuated over the years as inflation and wages moved up and down. In 2021, the share of households with these extreme allocations was even higher in some segments, signaling growing pressure on family budgets during periods of price increases.
Beyond Russia, inflation has forced consumers in various countries to adjust consumption patterns and prioritize essential goods. For instance, there have been reports that in economic downturns some of the poorest households in different European contexts cut back on food purchases as prices rose. While the specific numbers differ by country, the underlying dynamic—price pressures squeezing low-income households—appears as a common theme across developed economies. Such trends underscore the broad link between macroeconomic factors like inflation, wage growth, and access to basic necessities.
When examining these trends from a broader perspective, it becomes clear that food insecurity is not only a matter of individual hardship but also a signal about social safety nets, housing affordability, and healthcare access. Policymakers in North America and Europe often respond with measures aimed at stabilizing prices for staples, expanding social assistance, and protecting the most vulnerable populations during economic downturns. The data from the Russian studies, while localized, contribute to a wider conversation about how households navigate price changes, manage limited income, and sustain a dignified standard of living under pressure.
In contemporary analyses, it is important to contextualize historical numbers within ongoing economic developments, because the severity of self-reported shortages can shift with policy responses, seasonal factors, and shifts in employment. The broader takeaway is that ensuring reliable access to food and essential goods remains a central challenge for vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, and that close monitoring of household budgets helps assess the impact of inflation, social programs, and wage dynamics over time.
Notes on the sources: the core figures referenced come from the HSE Civil Society and Nonprofit Sector Research Center, with reporting that tracks changes over several years and across demographic groups. Additional observations about international examples illustrate how inflation can affect families’ ability to meet basic needs in different settings, and they provide a comparative lens for understanding the Russian experience in the larger global context. [Source attribution: HSE, News reports, 2022 and subsequent analyses]