During 2013, inflation in Russia was at an extremely high level, which led to a significant increase in prices. In particular, such important groups of goods as food and electricity rose in price for the population. So far, the situation in terms of price dynamics in 2014 coincides with the negative trends of the previous year.
Price dynamics at the beginning of 2014
According to the Federal State Statistics Service, in the first quarter of 2014, the consumer price index was 101.9% (compared to the previous quarter). The largest growth was observed in consumer goods - 103.2%, for non-food products the growth was 101.1%, for services - by 101.4%. The weakening of the ruble had a great influence on price dynamics, which led to an increase in the value of imported goods.
From the beginning of the year to mid-May 2014, prices rose by 3.8%. For comparison, in 2013 this dynamics amounted to 2.8%.
According to forecasts of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, in the first half of 2014, prices will increase by 7.5%, but by the end of the year inflation will slow down. The situation should normalize due to the weakening effect of the ruble depreciation, lower rates of indexation of tariffs of natural monopolies, as well as a good harvest. Among foodstuffs, in the first half of May 2014, the prices of pork (+ 2.6%), cabbage (+ 6.2%), onions (+ 5.5%), potatoes (+ 3.2%) increased at the fastest rates. At the same time, chicken eggs, on the contrary, became cheaper (by 3.9%). Cucumbers and tomatoes also became more accessible (minus 9% and 6.2%). The price of gasoline for this period grew by 0.2%.
