Inflation accelerates in Russia — essential goods and services hit hardest
Russia entered 2026 with a noticeable acceleration of inflation — the rate of price growth at the start of January jumped significantly compared to the end of last year. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, in the first 12 days of January, the average daily price increase reached 0.104% versus 0.014% at the end of 2025.
The sharpest rise affected not “extra” purchases, but what households cannot do without daily.
Prices increased most in the food segment, especially fruits and vegetables — on average, they rose 7.9%. Cucumbers became more than 21% more expensive, and tomatoes — 13.6%, exceeding typical winter dynamics and hinting at supply and logistics disruptions.
At the same time, the cost of “socially sensitive” items increased: baby food, pork, and alcohol, partly due to higher excise taxes.
Non-food essential goods were also affected — cleaning agents, hygiene products, and medicines, including antiviral drugs.
On this background, the falling cost of consumer electronics only highlights the imbalance: inflation is concentrated in basic expenses, not optional purchases.
