In Russia, the cost of footwear rose by about a quarter in October this year compared with the previous October, while clothing prices climbed by roughly 21 percent in the same period. This finding comes from Izvestia, which quotes analysts from the MoySklad service. The trend signals a broad shift in consumer shopping behavior as households adjust to evolving price levels in essential apparel and footwear categories.
When the October results are set side by side with the pre-crisis indicators from 2021, the growth in prices appears even more striking. The average price of shoes is up by around 51 percent, and clothing costs have risen by about 41 percent since 2021. These figures hint at a sharper inflationary pulse in consumer goods and raise questions about the lasting impact on household budgets.
Purchasing patterns in October this year were not uniform. Analysts observed a softer demand for shoes compared with 2021 and 2022, whereas demand for clothing seemed to hold steadier or even increase in some segments. This divergence suggests that Russians may be prioritizing wardrobe updates or perhaps responding to seasonal promotions, even as overall product affordability comes under pressure.
During the first two weeks of November, including the 11.11 discount period, Russians continued to buy clothes and footwear. However, the total number of such purchases declined by 13 percent year on year, according to socialbites.ca via the Control Index of OFD Platforms. The explanation offered is that many consumers used the early autumn window to make substantial purchases in anticipation of later price movements, a behavior some observers have described as front-loading spending in an inflationary environment.
Earlier reports from socialbites.ca indicated that almost two-thirds of Russians do not differentiate between 11.11 and Black Friday sales, treating both as major shopping events. The observed closeness in consumer response to these promotions underscores how discount periods are shaping retail dynamics not only in Russia but also for international brands seeking to understand cross-market consumer psychology in North America and beyond.