Consumer behavior of Russians: opportunities and priorities

Abstract

The article examines the dynamics of changes in the volume of monetary income as a means for life of Russians, including implementation of their consumption priorities. It shows distribution of the population's expenditures on consumption of food and non-food products, alcoholic beverages and payment for services. The analysis is based on government statistics on 20 percent income groups, it covers a four-year period, including two years on the eve of the coronavirus pandemic and two years of its development. In the structure of the use of monetary income of the entire (without breakdown into groups) population (2018-2021) are analyzed indicators characterizing changes not only in the purchase of goods and services, but also in the increase/decrease in savings, which act as a reserve for future consumer opportunities. There are identified differences in the change in the share of household spending on food and services in the overall structure of consumer spending by macro-regions of Russia — Federal districts. From the standpoint of macro-regional differentiation in the structure of the use of monetary income for a ten-year period, the emphasis is placed on the purchase of goods and payment for services in Russia as a whole, and especially on the active growth in the Far Eastern and North Caucasus macro-regions. The share of expenses for the purchase of a number of the most important food products in household consumer spending is considered by decile income groups. A comparative analysis of the least and most affluent groups of the population is carried out within the frames of the specified directions reflecting priorities in the consumer behavior of the Russian population.