Due to the fuel crisis, Russians have started spending more on fuel
Russians’ spending on automotive fuel at the end of June rose by more than 15% compared to the same period last year. These figures were released by “SberIndex,” which analyzes the non-cash spending of Sberbank customers.
It is noted that the rate of growth in fuel spending was nearly double the overall growth in consumer spending in Russia.
According to the study, the sharp increase began after June 6:
- June 6 – fuel spending was 3.94% higher than a year ago;
- June 13 – the increase reached 6.89%, nearly matching the overall consumer spending growth rate (6.95%);
- June 27 – fuel spending had already increased by 15.94%, while overall household spending rose by only 7.9%;
- July 5 – the figure fell slightly to 13.88%, but still significantly exceeded the overall increase in spending (8.25%).
In addition to fuel, spending on non-food goods also increased.
Last week, Russians spent 13.75% more on these goods than during the same period last year.
At the same time, analysts note that rising spending does not always mean only higher prices. It may also indicate:
- a surge in demand and increased purchase volumes;
- or, conversely, a significant rise in the cost of goods even as consumption declines.
According to Rosstat, as of June 29: gasoline prices had risen by 11.6% since the beginning of the year, and diesel fuel prices by 11%.
Back in mid-June, these figures were nearly half as high—6.6% for gasoline and 5.7% for diesel.
The price increases are occurring against the backdrop of a fuel crisis, which is estimated to be worsening due to regular strikes by Ukrainian drones on Russian oil refining infrastructure.
In particular, on July 7, Ukrainian drones attacked the Omsk Oil Refinery—Russia’s largest refinery, located approximately 2,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border—for the first time.
According to experts, following this attack, about 85% of Russia’s oil refining capacity is now within range of Ukrainian long-range drones.
As a reminder, amid a severe heat wave, residents of the temporarily occupied Crimea have been without a stable water supply for two weeks now. At the same time, the occupying authorities cannot agree on a single version of the fuel shortage situation: officials are giving different dates for when gasoline will become available again. Only the so-called “energy minister” of the occupying administration has acknowledged that no significant improvement should be expected in the near future.
The fuel crisis in Crimea has intensified: a chronicle of the return to home port.
As a reminder, the fuel shortage in Crimea has triggered a wave of mass layoffs and business closures.
Earlier, the Russian presidential administration sent special “recommendations” to state-run and pro-government media outlets regarding how exactly to report on the fuel shortage in the country.
The fuel crisis is also intensifying in Russia: gasoline is running out at gas stations and lines are growing.
Russia has allowed the use of lower-quality gasoline due to the fuel crisis.
