The Russian economy ends 2021 with a record inflation rate in 6 years, reported Ministry of Economic Development on Wednesday.

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As of December 29, the consumer basket, made up of three hundred goods and services, grew by 8.39% – more than the Central Bank (7.4-7.9%) predicted, the Ministry of Economic Development (5.8%) and the majority of economists surveyed by Bloomberg ( consensus – 8.1%).

At the time of adoption, the draft budget for 2021 includes inflation of 3.7% and 3.5% – conservative. The Central Bank predicted the same amount at the beginning of the year. Already in February, when food prices went up, he raised the bar to 3.7-4.2%, in April – to 4.7-5.2%, in July – to 5.7-6.2% , and on the penultimate change, in October – up to 7.4-7.9%.

The Ministry of Economic Development announces four times a year that inflation has reached its peak and predicted its slowdown – in March, May, July and October. But inflation showed a maximum in November – 8.4% – and stayed there at the end of the year.

The year was an inflationary shock for tens of millions of poor people who spend almost all their income on food. Principal Economist Discovery Research.

Over the year, chicken meat has become more expensive by 26.79%, pork – by 15.72%, beef – by 14.93%.

Buckwheat prices jumped by 26.49%, and soared by 78% in two years. Flour has become more expensive by 13.63% – almost the same as a year earlier (13.82%). Sugar, which soared in price by 64.5% in 2020, has risen in price by another 12.24% in 2021.

Cucumbers and tomatoes rose in price by a modest 3.47% and 3.97%, but last year prices rose 47.47% and 26.05%, respectively.

The price of carrots increased by 32.7%, onions – by 16.14%; potatoes – by 57.3%, and cabbage – by 139.14%.

In general, Rosstat’s grocery basket rose in price by 10.63%. Compared to 2020, food inflation has doubled, hitting consumers, among whom, according to official statistics, every second lives on less than 27 thousand rubles a month.

A survey by Rosstat conducted in 2020 showed that the overwhelming majority (93%) of Russian families can use meat, poultry or fish on the table only once every two days, 17% of families do not have the means to “eat fruit at any time of the year” “, Only 48% of families in Russia can pay for” urgent medical services “, notes Yakov Mirkin, Head of the Capital Market Department, IMEMO RAN.

At the same time, it accelerates the growth of prices for non-food products, Petronevich notes: “However, the growth in prices for non-food products remained at the level of about 4.5%. rise in prices for building materials and 14% for cars. ” At the same time, inflation in the service sector doubled (from 2.7% to 5.5%), and prices for gasoline (up to 8%) and tobacco (over 16%) also increased.

Economist of the Bank Tsentrokredit Evgeny Suvorov: real pensions have been declining for 10 months in a row, the growth of real incomes has practically stopped (0.6% c). November).

“The growth of world food prices continues – both in dollars and in ruble terms, so we are expecting an acceleration in annual inflation rates,” Petronevich warns to 9% in the first quarter.

The moment of truth will come in March, he says: world food prices are either starting a noticeable correction or staying at levels for another growing season.