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| Russian Economy: A 'small matter' like an egg... unexpectedly becomes a big matter. (Source: Moscow News Agency) |
President Putin has confirmed he will run for re-election in March next year. He has repeatedly praised the economy’s resilience to sanctions, but Russians’ purchasing power has nonetheless been hit. Real purchasing power has been eroded over the past two years, thanks to a weak ruble and persistently high inflation, which rose to 7.5% year-on-year in November.
The Kremlin has for months insisted that the Russian economy is bravely resisting a series of retaliatory measures imposed on the country since Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine (February 2022), with growth rising to 5.5% in the third quarter, compared to -3.5% at the same time in 2022.
Egg prices have soared – up 40% in November compared to the same month last year, according to Russian statistics agency Rosstat.
Meanwhile, some Muscovites say egg prices have doubled as Russia continues to grapple with persistent inflation and Western sanctions.
One might wonder, "it's just an egg"... However, the price spike of 40% or more came at a "politically ill-timed" time, as eggs are the main ingredient for many traditional Russian holiday dishes, so it caught many people's attention.
“… What is happening with prices is a nightmare, not only for eggs, but for everything,” said 76-year-old retiree Yelizaveta Shalayevskaya.
Meanwhile, price has also become a big issue for 21-year-old student Ilya Zarubin. “I used to buy eggs in the store for 70 rubles, now they cost around 130-140 rubles.”
Retired worker Nina Nevarenykh, 65, also feels quite stressed when egg prices increase sharply. “I don’t understand why eggs are increasing in price, but it is true… I can feel how my wallet is affected,” Nina shared.
Experts quoted by Russian media said the increase was due to rising prices for poultry feed and veterinary products, which were themselves indirectly affected by Western sanctions on imported goods.
Therefore, the sharp increase in egg prices suddenly became a big problem, causing the government to worry.
Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov has launched checks to probe possible unjustified price increases from sellers and manufacturers.
Meanwhile, as a temporary measure, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Rosselkhoznadzor has decided to allow the import of eggs from Türkiye. The Ministry of Agriculture has also proposed a six-month ban on the export of Russian eggs.
In the southern city of Belgorod, near Ukraine, authorities called for calm after people had to queue to buy eggs over the weekend.
On social media, some scenes reminiscent of the old Soviet era were widely posted - videos showed people lining up in the snow in the hope of buying cheaper eggs at an agricultural fair.
On Telegram , the region’s deputy governor Yulia Shchedrina “took the stage” to announce that “There will be no shortage… eggs will be available for everyone.” However, she also announced a sales limit of 20 eggs per person.
Russian families are keeping a close eye on egg prices in December, as eggs and mayonnaise are key ingredients in end-of-year festive meals, especially Olivier salad - a staple of Russian New Year's Eve.
Olivier salad with lots of mayonnaise is an indispensable dish for Russians on New Year's Eve. For them, it is difficult to imagine New Year's without Olivier Salad.
Yelena, 60, who lives in Moscow and works as a manager at a psychological support service, said that no matter how much the price of eggs goes up, she has no intention of giving up her favorite dish. “I will make Olivier salad for the New Year at all costs, even if food prices become more expensive, but it is quite sad that eggs are so expensive.”
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