Fuel for Inflation: Price Surge in Voronezh Oblast

In June, prices for food, goods, and services in Voronezh Oblast rose by 1.53% compared to May. This is a record high for the year. Annual inflation in the region currently stands at 5.6%, compared to 4.25% a month earlier. However, it is still lower than the national average of 6.02%. The data was provided by the Voronezh branch of the Bank of Russia.

Unsurprisingly, gasoline prices had the greatest impact on inflation. According to official data, they rose by 18.93% in June and by 33.19% over the year. In second place was foreign tourism, which became almost 13% more expensive in a month and 23.3% over the year. Vegetables rounded out the top three, with prices rising nearly 6% in June. However, compared to June last year, vegetable prices fell significantly — by 11%.

The Central Bank explains the rise in gasoline prices as «active seasonal demand amid limited supply due to logistics restructuring and longer delivery times to gas stations.» The increase in vegetable prices is attributed to a correction after a sharper-than-usual decline in previous months.

The main counterbalance to gasoline in terms of inflation in June was eggs, which fell in price by 11.5%. Prices for communication equipment dropped by almost 4%. Also cheaper by 1–2% were televisions, clothing, computers, fur items, books, and cheese.