Russian citizens increased spending on alcohol, tobacco and sweets by 18.6% in the second quarter of this year. Spending on sports and cultural programs is also decreasing.
According to analysts with the FinExpertiza audit and consulting network, this consumption pattern is similar to the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Experts attribute the probable reason for such behavior to increased stress levels. On the whole, a family of three spends about 3.5 thousand rubles on junk food. At the same time, cultural and sporting events took up 1.9 thousand rubles in the structure of the family budget, which is 26.6% less than the same period last year.
The champion regions in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and sweets are Moscow and the Nenets Autonomous District, which have increased spending on cheap entertainment substitutes 1.5 times. Ryazan and Ulyanovsk regions are the leaders in reducing spending on culture and sports.
The Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District is breaking records for spending on catering - expenses on restaurants and cafes to eat stress increased more than 12 times to 4 thousand rubles per average family.
According to Agvan Mikaelyan, a member of the FinExpertiza board of directors, the increase in spending is mainly due to inflation, but partially characterizes the pessimistic expectations of the population. People have to brighten up their leisure time to the detriment of other spending - spending on household appliances decreased by 27%.