Russians set a record for spending in December, but bought less.

      The ROMIR consumer panel published data on the spending of Russian households for the years 2023–2025. The graph clearly demonstrates a steady increase in monthly spending on food and everyday goods. If at the beginning of 2023 the average family check was around 21–22 thousand rubles per month, by the end of 2025 it confidently surpassed the threshold of 40 thousand.

      The maximum jump traditionally occurred in December. In the last month of 2025, expenses rose to 51 thousand 362 rubles, which is an absolute record for the entire period under consideration. At the same time, the structure of the pre-New Year basket remained unchanged: 56% of expenses (28 thousand 506 rubles) were for food, while 44% (22 thousand 856 rubles) were for non-food everyday goods.

      A comparison over the years shows that the trend of growth is not weakening. In 2024, average monthly expenses were already noticeably higher than in 2023, and in 2025 the dynamics accelerated. However, as noted by ROMIR's director for client relations in FMCG and retail, Anastasia Sidorina, the external growth of figures does not indicate an increase in wealth.

      "According to the study, a traditional increase in spending was recorded in December, driven by pre-New Year purchases. At the same time, the dynamics indicate a decrease in consumption in physical terms. Despite the high level of purchasing activity, Russians are actively optimizing their expenses," the expert explained.

      Citizens are spending more money but buying fewer goods, indicating the influence of the price factor. The study is based on data from 40 thousand Russians from 15 thousand households across the country, representing the real picture of consumption.