Potato prices are killing Russians. They are going back to bread and pasta

Things are not rosy in Russia - potatoes, a staple of the diet for years, have gone up in price horrendously in recent months. For this reason, more and more Russians are changing their shopping habits, reaching for cheaper alternatives to basic food products, such as bread or pasta.

More and more Russian consumers are changing their shopping habits, turning to cheaper alternatives to staple foods in the face of rising food prices and shrinking household budgets.

An example is the increase in the price of potatoes, which have become one of the most affected products. The average retail price of potatoes increased by 173% over the year, which is the largest increase in 23 years. In response to this increase, potato consumption fell by 8% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, reports The Moscow Times.

In the face of rising prices for basic food products, consumers began to increase purchases of other items, such as bread, pasta, and grains. Bread sales rose by 6%, pasta by 5%, and grain by 3%. Back in May , Vladimir Putin himself admitted that the shortage of vegetables, which are essential for Russians, was a serious problem .

The data shows that the affordability of potatoes has fallen by almost 45% over the past year , while other staples like onions and butter have also become more expensive. Onions have gone up 41% in price and butter by 34%, affecting their affordability. Onions have fallen by 17% in price and butter by 15%. Meanwhile, pasta and cereal prices have remained relatively stable, helping to boost sales.

Despite attempts to present changes in consumer diets as a conscious choice for “higher quality food,” these changes point to real economic difficulties. According to Rosstat, average food prices in the first four months of 2025 were 12% higher than in the same period last year, with vegetables the most affected. In particular, prices for potatoes, onions, cabbage, and beets rose significantly.

In response to these changes, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed introducing state price controls on key vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions and beets, under the so-called "borsht index". Additionally, food demand remains one of the few market segments that shows steady growth, while sales of non-food items such as cars and electronics have fallen significantly, indicating general stagnation in other parts of the economy.

Prepared by JM

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