In the period from August 22 to August 28, 2023, Russia’s consumer price index stood at 100.03 percent, revealing a subtle monthly uptick from the start of August at 100.23 percent and a year-to-date level near 103.65 percent, according to Rosstat. This snapshot reflects a moment when price pressures remained modest, yet discernible, within a broader inflation trend tracked by the statistical agency.
Prices for vegetables and fruits continued to ease in the most recent week, though the pace of the decline moderated. On average, fruit and vegetable costs dropped by 2.7 percent, a slower retreat than the 3.1 percent decline recorded the week prior. The pattern signals a cooling of some food categories after earlier rapid price reductions.
Among individual items, the most pronounced drop was seen in cabbage, where prices fell by 13.7 percent. Onions also posted a noticeable decline of 10.5 percent, followed by carrots at 6.9 percent, tomatoes at 6.4 percent, potatoes at 5.9 percent, and beets at 4.8 percent. Apples held relatively steady, dipping only 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, cucumber and banana prices moved in the opposite direction, rising as supply dynamics shifted.
In addition to fresh produce, several other food staples showed price declines, including frozen fish, buckwheat, sour cream, and noodles. In contrast, some items registered gains: mutton increased the most among these as prices rose by 1.8 percent. Prices for poultry, pork, sausages, salt, and rice also climbed, contributing to a mixed food inflation picture.
Within the broader category of basic goods and household needs, price movements showed a mix of small increases and some localized declines. The largest upward nudges were seen in laundry detergents and diapers, both rising by about 0.4 percent. Prices for toilet paper, toothpaste, and diapers also rose notably, reflecting persistent consumer demand in essentials. By contrast, toothbrush prices edged down by 0.5 percent. There were additional increases in the costs of shoes and clothing, as well as gasoline and medicines, while prices for vacuum cleaners and televisions fell modestly. Smartphone prices, however, trended upward, signaling ongoing demand for mobile devices in the consumer market.
Analysts and observers have started to discuss how Russians perceive inflation in daily life, particularly as price movements become less volatile yet remain visible across household budgets. These perceptions often interact with official signals about changes in real incomes, which have been the subject of public discussion and policy commentary in recent periods as part of broader conversations about living costs and consumer welfare.