Russians record increase in leisure spending

Last year, Russians spent one and a half times more on museums, concerts, movies and sporting events. This increase is the maximum since at least 2019, FinExpertiza analysts have calculated based on Rosstat data (Izvestiya has the study). In the three quarters of 2024, family spending on leisure amounted to an average of 6.5 thousand rubles per month.

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The reason is that in conditions of economic instability, Russians began to pay more attention to entertainment, while refusing to make large purchases, said Yaroslav Kabakov, Director of Strategy at Finam Investment Company. This was also due to the rise in prices and interest rates on loans for housing and cars, added Sergei Zainullin, associate professor at the Faculty of Economics of PFUR.

Millennials and zoomers are now the main source of growth in spending on entertainment, said Olga Lebedinskaya, associate professor of statistics at the Plekhanov Russian Economic University. Young people spend more money on impressions rather than on consumer goods.

The record growth of real wages in 2024 - by 8.7% - also played a role, said Natalia Milchakova, a leading analyst at Freedom Finance Global.

At the same time, residents of Chukotka and Moscow spent the most on entertainment - 29 thousand rubles a month. And the least - in Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan, where less than 700 rubles were allocated for recreation.

Read more in the exclusive material of "Izvestia":

Spurred by fanflation: Russians record increase in leisure spending