New analyses from market trackers in Russia show that, in March, prices for certain everyday product categories did not rise compared with February. Among the items cited as having stable price points were instant coffee, milk, meatballs, cigarettes, alcohol, rice and tea, and wheat flour. This snapshot of pricing trends appears in the data gathered by Evotor and reported by RIA Novosti. The finding highlights how inflation can, at times, press on different segments of the consumer basket with uneven intensity, inviting a closer look at the factors shaping those movements across the March period.
According to the same publication, the overall price level for unchained retail goods rose by 11 percent year over year in March, while the categories listed above stayed flat on a month-to-month basis. The report also notes the softening trend in several staple items, with buckwheat, butter (including both dairy and vegetable varieties), instant mashed potatoes, and noodles showing a slight decline of about 1 percent. These mixed signals illustrate how price dynamics can be divergent within a single market, influenced by shifts in supply chains, seasonal demand, and macroeconomic policy directions that affect consumer purchasing power and expectations.
In contrast, March did show increases for other groups of products compared with February. Notable upticks were recorded for mayonnaise, sausages, certain spices, and jams derived from fish and seafood. Analysts and observers point to a combination of factors behind these movements, such as changes in production costs, local procurement patterns, and the ongoing adjustments by retailers to balance margins with the evolving cost of inputs. While the overall picture includes both rises and holds, the March data emphasize a diversified pricing landscape rather than a uniform trend across all food and household categories.
Public sentiment, as captured by the Public Opinion Foundation’s survey, reveals that nearly half of Russians, about 47 percent, believe that prices for essential foods, goods, and services climbed faster in March than in February. Around 28 percent feel prices increased at roughly the same pace, 5 percent perceive slower growth, and 10 percent did not notice any change. The spread of responses suggests that consumer experiences during March varied by household, location, and consumption patterns, reinforcing the idea that price movements can feel more acute to some groups than to others even when the published figures show a mixed bag of gains and holds. Analysts caution that perceptions often lag or diverge from official indices, but both data streams together offer a more nuanced view of the inflation environment and its practical impact on daily life.