The first Russian region to launch “food cards” for the poor

Needy residents of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug will receive electronic “certificates” to pay for purchases in Pyateroczka and Perekrestok supermarkets. This was reported by the press office of X5 Retail Group (owner of the brands of these stores).

Residents applying for state support will receive social benefits to the card of the Mir payment system. They can only be spent in X5 stores. The company is working with the governments of several other Russian regions to introduce an electronic certificate system, the report says.

In connection with the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine, the citizens of the Russian Federation have experienced a new wave of decline in real incomes and a sharp rise in inflation. According to Rosstat, in 2022 the real disposable income of the Russian population decreased by 1% after an increase of 3.2% in 2021. The price increase last year reached 17.83% on an annual basis.

As a result, the purchasing power of Russians has decreased for 15 out of 24 staple foods. So, before the war in 2021, citizens of the Russian Federation with average incomes could afford to buy 102.8 kg of beef per month, and in 2022 only 97 kg. In terms of milk, the citizens of Russia will become poorer by 0.2 liters per year, and in terms of granulated sugar – by 151 kg. The amount of salt available to Russians decreased by 307 kg; tea – by 1.6 kg; margarine – 45 kg.

In general, food sales fell by 1.5% last year, and in the first quarter of 2023 by another 3.4%. In real terms, that is, taking into account the cumulative inflation, the turnover of Russian retail trade has fallen below 2011 levels, MMI analysts have calculated.

The day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would be able to provide itself with the necessary products. “For grain, self-sufficiency is 185.4%, for meat – 101.6%, for fish – 153%, for vegetable oil – 211%,” Putin quotes statistics.