For the first time since 2008 Russians are spending more than half their monthly income on food, as falling real incomes force them to buy only basic necessities.
In February, Russians spent 50.1 percent of their earnings on food products, including alcohol and tobacco, according to the study by the Institute of Social Analysis and Forecasting Institute at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
“In poorer households, the majority of the budget is spent on food products,” the study said.
In 2015, the poverty rate grew to 19.2 million people or 13.4 percent of the population, the highest number seen over the past nine years, according to Rosstat state statistics data, the Interfax news agency reported.
According to one of the authors of the report, Maria Ivanova, the share of food expenses will continue to grow in Russia in 2016.
I Word Understanding
Real incomes– the amount of goods and services that money income will buy at current time
Poorer households– having little or no money, goods, or other means of support
Poverty rate – percentage of population suffering from hunger
II Have your say
1.How much money do you spend on food every month?Should you be spending more on food?
2.Here’s modern-foreign eating culture negatively affect individual food spending?
Street food kiosks (Taiwan, China,Philippines, Hongkong)
Western junks foods for afternoon snacks and midnight snacks (almost most countries)
Quick dine style fast foods (almost all countries)
Coffe or tea chat after meal (almost all countries)
Lunch or Dinner meeting (almost all countries
Imported Christmas culture celebration
Buffet style dining (Philippines, Taiwan, China, European and Western countries)
Modern christian style wedding receptions (almost all countries except North Korea)
Social parties for business and politics (almost all countries except North Korea
3.Would you agree or disagree that food sharing make one a better person?
482 Russians Spend Half Their Incomes on Food For First Time Since 2008
