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During the first wave of coronavirus, the prices of lemons, ginger and garlic suddenly skyrocketed. Then it became clear to consumers that the virus could not be defeated with folk remedies, and the cost decreased. With the onset of the second wave of the pandemic, food prices began to rise again.
In summer, after the harvest, the prices for seasonal berries, fruits and vegetables traditionally fall. And although you can’t feed a family with apples or tomatoes alone, you can save a lot on light meals. In addition, many housewives stock up for future use – they make preparations for the winter, freeze berries and vegetable mixtures, dry fruits, make jams and make pickles. Some, while the prices on the market are loyal, are stocked in bulk: a bag or two of potatoes, a net of onions, carrots, beets, etc.
After the first wave of quarantine, many were probably struck by the idea that it would be nice to have a supply of food in the home pantry. For example, in August, according to Rosstat, potatoes fell by 19,6%, tomatoes – by 15,6% (from 60 rubles per kg), onions – by 14,9% (an average of 20 rubles per kilo), grapes – by 14,6% (from 70 rubles), apples – by 11,9% (from 60 rubles), cucumbers – by 9,7% (the lowest price is 50 rubles), white cabbage – by 9,2% (average price per kilo – 20 rubles), carrots – by 9,1% (from 16 rubles).
This is where we run out of good news. Because most of the items included in the so-called grocery basket have become more expensive this year. And, as experts predict, by the end of the year they will grow by another 10-15 percent. This will more affect imported fruits, vegetables and products made from raw materials purchased abroad.
What are we paying more for now? Rating of prices that surprised us.
Ginger
The undisputed favorite of our list. Does not apply to either essential products or exotic plants. If desired, you can even grow it on a windowsill in your apartment. But starting in April 2020, on the wave of hype around popular recipes for treating COVID, the price of ginger root has reached a thousand (and in some retail outlets even two and a half) rubles. Those who like to have a cup of spicy tea were very disappointed. Ginger, of course, is a useful product, increases immunity and fights bacteria, but there were no people willing to buy it for such a price. Over time, the price returned to its previous level – from 200 rubles per kg.
Lemon
Since popular rumor spread the recipe for a healthy drink – ginger tea with lemon, the fruit also skyrocketed in price. If earlier in large retail chains it was at a price of 130 rubles per kilogram, and often even cheaper, then after the start of the pandemic, offer it to customers for 350 rubles. Nobody expected such a turn. By the end of spring, the incomprehensible pricing situation ended, the cost per kilo of exotic fruit became again adequate to the wallet of most buyers.
Garlic
He is also in the top three, but with a much more modest result. In the spring, the price per kilogram of garlic reached 260 rubles. The demand for it increased after its supplies from China stopped. Maybe then practical housewives began to buy it in reserve? Fortunately, the fears of having to eat borscht without garlic did not come true. There was enough product in the warehouses. Over time, prices began to fall, and there a new harvest arrived.
Buckwheat
As soon as the incidence rates of coronavirus crawled up, people began to buy kernel. There has never been such a full house in the grocery department: the shelves with buckwheat were empty, and when they filled up the goods again, late buyers found new price tags – with figures much higher than usual. In the summer, mass interest in cereals disappeared, and in the fall it began to grow again. Now to find buckwheat in retail chains at 25 rubles per kilo, as it cost a year ago, it will not work – at least 65 rubles per 900 g. And then these are, most likely, one-time special offers. The range of prices for buckwheat across the country is from 40 rubles for a 900-gram pack to 134 rubles.
Sugar
The rise in sugar prices began in April. The figures varied from 2,2% in July to 13,9% in October. As a result, you can buy a kilogram package in different cities of our country from 40 to 60 rubles. Last year, a kilo of sugar cost 28-30 rubles. By the way, other sweets have risen in price by 7,9% this year: sweets, honey, chocolate.
Sunflower oil
Now in retail chains in Russian regions, the cost of a liter of sunflower oil ranges from 79,9 to 120 rubles. During the year, there were periods when oil was usually cheaper (up to 2%), but in the country as a whole, the price of the product was growing. So, for the week at the end of October, according to Rosstat, prices for sunflower oil increased by 2,2%. An increase of 3% or more was noted in 24 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
eggs
At the end of summer, the price of chicken eggs went up – in different regions, the cost of a dozen increased from 1,9 to 5,8% (the highest cost was 120 rubles). If a year ago 10 pieces were sold at a price of 44 rubles, now the average cost of a dozen is 56 rubles.
Pasta
The story with them is simple – the product is stored for a long time, and while waiting for quarantine, buyers stocked up for future use. In addition, part of the pasta is imported to Russia, bought for foreign currency, and the ruble exchange rate is also not happy. The price of spaghetti and noodles began to change. Now a pack weighing 450 g of domestic “shells” can be bought for 56 rubles against 36 rubles last year.
Meat and sausages
On average, the price of pork and lamb rises by 1-1,5% per month. Now a pork neck or shoulder blade will cost about 240 rubles per kilo, beef – from 380 rubles, lamb – from 420 rubles. In the markets, the price is much lower. According to our observations, prices for meat have not grown so much as for meat products – sausages, sausages and other semi-finished products.
What else has risen in price?
National cheeses and feta cheese
Canned fish
Beans, peas
Tea, cocoa
rice
Oat flakes “Hercules”
Bread and bakery products