Russians struggle most with finances in December and January, survey finds
Russian households feel the most financial strain at the end and start of each year. A recent survey reveals that December and January are the toughest months for budgets, with celebrations and extended holidays driving up costs. Other periods, like August, also bring added expenses for families with children.
Nearly half of those surveyed—48%—named December as their costliest month. The reason was clear: New Year's preparations pushed spending higher than usual. January followed closely, with 26% of respondents pointing to the extended holiday period as the main cause of financial pressure.
August ranked third, with 12% of people calling it their most expensive month. For families with children, the figure rose to 21%, as back-to-school costs added to household budgets. Meanwhile, February and March were seen as relatively calm, with no notable spike in gift-related spending. The survey also highlighted regional differences. The Far Eastern Federal District showed the greatest variation in spending, at 37%, while the Central Federal District had the least, at 21%. On the other hand, June and July were the months of lowest spending for many, with 18% and 20% of respondents naming them the easiest on their wallets. Inflation expectations among Russians climbed to 13.4% in March, up by 0.3 percentage points from February. This rise reflects growing concerns about future price increases, though no earlier survey data was available for comparison.
The findings confirm that household budgets in Russia face the most pressure in December and January. Families with children also feel added strain in August due to school-related costs. With inflation expectations rising, financial planning may become even more challenging in the coming months.
