Consumer Practice and Population Sentiment in Conditions of 2020–2022 Instability (regional aspect)

Abstract

Various crises are integral for social development. Primarily crises manifest themselves in income and consumption changes, which makes consumer behavior and population sentiment studies necessary in unstable socio-economic conditions. The purpose of the study is to analyze consumer practice and population sentiment trends in the Vologda Oblast during the socio-economic changes of 2020–2022. The author determines that consumer practices of the region’s population hardly change in quantitative and qualitative terms, consumer sentiments also appear stable. Population’s assessment of capability for large purchases, car and housing purchases, savings remains neutral. However, the persistency of neutral consumer practices and sentiments levels suggests that the residents of the region do not expect positive changes in the economic life of their family and the country in the near future.