From a joint survey conducted by X5 Takeaway and OFD’s Check Index analytics unit, roughly three in ten Russians allocated 10,000 to 15,000 rubles for meals and beverages during the New Year holiday period. The dataset maps how families spread their budgets over the festive window, including how much was set aside for gifts, groceries, and special meals, with notes from Check Index’s analytics team. The findings capture spending patterns that accompany a surge in shopping and dining as households welcome the new year with traditions and gatherings, offering a snapshot of consumer behavior during peak holiday activity.
Other brackets reveal a broad spread: 23% allocated 5,000 to 10,000 rubles; 15% chose 15,000 to 20,000; 13% spent up to 5,000; 10% went 20,000 to 30,000; and 9% exceeded 30,000. The distribution underscores how households with varying income levels approach festive meals, with mid-range budgets concentrated in staple items and higher brackets funding larger meals, special treats, and dining out when mood or social calendars allow.
Throughout the holiday window, the majority leaned toward home cooking and self-prepared dishes. About 47% chose to eat at home, while many still explored dining options; roughly 46% balanced cooking at home with visits to cafes or restaurants, depending on mood and social plans. Retail and catering activity rose across the country as markets saw stronger consumer spending amid seasonal promotions, stockups, and seasonal assortments. The typical grocery receipt for the period January 1 to January 8, 2025 stood near 809 rubles, up about 7% from the previous year, with the total number of purchases increasing by roughly 4%. Staples dominated the lists, with eggs, bananas, bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, apples, potatoes and sugar ranking among the top items across homes.
Many participants overestimated how large the holiday feast would be. About half noticed a clear rise in food consumption, while the other half reported only a modest uptick. More than a third struggled to keep a nutritious routine during the holidays, and around 30% admitted bending healthy habits especially on New Year’s Eve. A quarter labeled the meals as chaotic, while only 10% described them as fully healthy. The data hints at how festive schedules, late-night celebrations, and family dynamics influence meal timing, portion sizes, and the balance between indulgence and nutrition.
More than half tied their eating to a season of feasts with family and friends, while 38% pointed to boredom, workload, and limited free time as drivers. About 29% said returning to a regular diet after the holidays was hard, and 23% attributed increased appetite to alcohol. These patterns provide North American retailers and food producers with meaningful guidance for planning in Canada and the United States, where festive cycles also shape shopping and meal decisions. For retailers, this translates into strategies around inventory buffers, holiday promotions, and the timing of fresh produce and dairy promotions to align with consumer mood shifts.