Garlic, Ginger, and Lemon Purchases Rise in Early 2024 Amid Seasonal Health Concerns
From January 1 to February 20, 2024, garlic purchases by Russian shoppers climbed by 15 percent compared with the same window a year earlier. The average spend on garlic also jumped, rising 51 percent to 281 rubles per purchase. These figures come from Check Index, a resource operated by OFD Platforms, as provided to socialbites.ca through its press service. [Attribution: Check Index, OFD Platforms]
Ginger purchases grew by 11 percent over the year, and the typical bill for this root rose by 18 percent, reaching 288 rubles. Lemon purchases increased by 7 percent, with the average monthly spend also up 18 percent to 139 rubles. [Attribution: Check Index, OFD Platforms]
Experts from Check Index noted that the demand for garlic, ginger, and lemons is linked to efforts to prevent colds, influenced not only by the epidemiological situation but also by weather patterns across the country. [Attribution: Check Index]
Seasonal temperature swings in central regions were highlighted as a factor driving higher purchases this season. The press service pointed out that older consumers, in particular, are taking extra precautions to shield themselves from cold-related illnesses in volatile weather. [Attribution: Check Index]
Analysts also linked the growth in average receipts for food categories to a broader uptick in consumer spending on fast-moving consumer goods during January. This trend reflects shifting household budgets and a focus on preventive health measures within daily routine shopping. [Attribution: Check Index]
Check Index completed the study at the end of February 2024. [Attribution: Check Index]
Earlier reports from socialbites.ca explored other consumer trends in 2024, such as which types of chocolate were most popular among Russians during the year. [Attribution: socialbites.ca]