Russian food prices stall as seasonal produce offsets basic staple hikes

Russia's food price growth slowed to 0.05% during the week from July 28 to August 3, according to data from the Ministry of Economic Development. While official statistics indicate near-zero inflation, the downward pressure is driven primarily by seasonal declines in the cost of vegetables and eggs rather than a broad reduction in consumer prices. The index remains skewed as socially significant products continued to increase in price during the same period. The Ministry's data shows that basic staples like sugar and poultry meat lead the upward trend, contrasting with the deflation observed in cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Product Price Change (%) Sugar +1.2% Poultry meat +0.9% Fruits +0.7% Pork +0.5% Bread +0.2% The data demonstrates that while the aggregate food index is nearly flat, prices for essential calories and proteins are rising.