The Sandwich Coffee Index, also known as the Buterbrodex, tracks how key breakfast items in Russia fluctuate in price. In the first half of March, the index slipped to 133.1 points, marking a decline of 1.1 points from the prior two-week window. This movement captures shifts in everyday grocery costs and reflects broader trends in household budgets. Source: RIA News reporting on the Check Index data.
The score is calculated by an institution using data gathered from the Check Index analytical platform. The representative basket includes seven staples: bread loaf, ham, butter, cheese, cucumber, instant coffee, and sugar. The scoring base remains 100 points, set to the value of the Sandwich basket in October 2022. This setup allows observers to gauge inflationary pressure across a familiar breakfast bundle and compare periods with clarity. Source: Check Index methodology disclosures.
Between March 1 and March 15, the average bill rose for certain items while falling for others. Ham prices climbed 4.5 percent to about 207 rubles per unit, and sugar increased by 1.6 percent to 62 rubles. Conversely, cucumbers saw a notable decline of 12.4 percent, dropping to 184 rubles, and coffee fell by 1.5 percent to 198 rubles. These mixed movements illustrate how producers and retailers respond to market signals and how consumer demand shifts can mitigate or amplify overall index changes. Source: Report on the March pricing survey.
Prices for basic staples such as loaf bread, butter, and cheese remained steady during this period, with loaves at 40 rubles, butter at 166 rubles, and cheese at 204 rubles. Stability in these core items helps anchor the overall index, even as other components swing. The steadiness is often interpreted as a sign that competition among suppliers is helping to keep price increases contained for several months at a time. Source: Market snapshot commentary.
Experts note that ongoing competition among food producers and retailers dampens the sting of price rises over six-month spans. The Check Index team emphasized that the observed index movement points to a softening in consumer spending relative to the previous period, suggesting households may be tightening belts or prioritizing essential items as prices fluctuate. This readjustment in spending patterns can have wider implications for retail dynamics and household budgeting. Source: Check Index analysis.
When calculating a stylized “coffee sandwich index” based on the classic breakfast recipe—two slices of loaf bread at 50 g each, butter 20 g, ham 50 g, cheese 20 g, cucumber 20 g, plus a cup of coffee with sugar measured as one teaspoon of instant coffee weighing 9.5 g and two teaspoons of sugar weighing 20 g—the typical prepared breakfast costs about 124.19 rubles on average. This calculation helps illustrate how small changes in component prices translate into a noticeable shift in a completed meal’s cost. Source: Recipe-based cost modeling.
Earlier chatter suggested that pancakes tied to the Maslenitsa festival had become more expensive, a seasonal effect that often influences near-term consumer behavior. Such seasonal pricing movements can ripple through the index, especially when they affect staple ingredients used in everyday breakfasts. Source: Seasonal pricing notes.
Ultimately, analysts often project revenue growth scenarios for household consumption, and the current index update provides a snapshot that can feed into those forecasts. The ongoing movement of the Sandwich Coffee Index remains a valuable indicator for policymakers, retailers, and shoppers who monitor how price dynamics for common breakfast items shift over time. Source: Economic outlook commentary.