Spin the wheel: fuel costs entered the top 3 expenses of Russians in June

Russians' fuel expenses were among the top three categories of consumer spending in June compared to the same month last year, along with purchases on marketplaces and payments for digital services. This is the conclusion reached by the analysts of Sberindex. At the same time, citizens began to spend less on medicines, medical services and food. According to the authors of the study, in general, nominal consumer spending in June was higher than last year, although its dynamics began to slow down over the past week.

Why did fuel cost more than medicines?

Russians' spending on fuel in June increased by 18.5% compared to the same month last year and entered the top three categories with the most noticeable increase in spending along with purchases on marketplaces (29.4%) and digital goods and services (online subscriptions, educational courses and others — 40.7%). This is stated in the Sberindex consumer spending survey conducted from July 6 to July 12, 2026. Izvestia has reviewed the document.

The most noticeable decrease was in spending on electronics and telecommunications equipment — by 16.4%, stationery — by 8.4%, furniture and interior items — by 7.2%, as well as clothing and footwear — by 6.3%. Overall, according to analysts, nominal consumer spending in June was 12.6% higher than a year earlier.

At the same time, in the first weeks of July, the growth rate of consumer activity began to slow down and amounted to 7.4% during the study period. According to the authors of the study, this is due to lower costs in almost all major categories. Thus, the increase in spending on food products slowed from 5% to 3.4%, on non—food products — from 14.5% to 13.4%, on catering - from 5.9% to 4.3%, and on services — from 8.9% to 7.8%.

In addition, in the period from July 6 to July 12, the total expenses of Russians decreased compared to the previous week. They decreased by 1.7% for food products, 1.1% for non—food products, and 2.8% for services.

However, in some categories, analysts record seasonal increases in expenses related to summer vacations and trips. The largest weekly increase was shown by spending on entertainment (+5.8%), travel and tourism (+5.5%), airline tickets (+2.9%) and hotels (+2.6%). At the same time, the overall level of spending over the past week is close to zero dynamics — +0.2% (+1.5% a year earlier). This dynamic indicates a redistribution of spending within the consumer basket rather than an overall increase in demand.

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"The increase in leisure-related spending is accompanied by a lack of consumption growth in the largest category of food expenses (+0.2% by June versus +2.2% in 2025), a decrease in spending on clothing and footwear (-7.3%), goods for construction and repair (-1%), medicines and medical supplies. goods (-2%), medical services (-2.8%)," the study notes.

According to Georgy Ostapkovich, scientific director of the HSE Center for Market Research, these studies are logical and indirectly confirmed by the increase in fuel prices, which are reflected in the "Consumer Price Index in June 2026" prepared by Rosstat. According to him, gasoline increased in value by almost 20% year-on-year in June and rose the most among non-food products.

— The government says that this is a temporary situation that will not affect inflation in the country as a whole. Therefore, we may have to wait a month or two, but eventually the situation will stabilize," the expert believes.

At the same time, he noted that over the past week, according to Rosstat, an increase in food prices, including fruit and vegetable products, which at this time of the year, on the contrary, are usually cheaper, has begun to be recorded. He did not rule out that this could be due to the fact that manufacturers have begun to include increased fuel costs in the cost of products.

How fuel prices can affect other goods

Business representatives assess the situation with rising fuel prices in different ways. For example, the Potato Union and the People's Farmer Association told Izvestia that the rise in prices was already affecting the cost of production.

— Of course, fuel is one of the cost factors in growing vegetables and a borscht set. It is about 15%, and now its price is changing. It is clear that this is now a painful factor for producers, especially in the southern regions, where harvesting has already begun, including grain crops," Alexey Krasilnikov, executive director of the Potato Union, explained to Izvestia.

According to him, currently, farmers in the regions where harvesting has not begun are purchasing additional fuel tanks to ensure that the harvest is guaranteed.

How much the situation with gasoline and diesel will affect prices will depend on how long it lasts, Babken Ispiryan, deputy chairman of the People's Farmer Association, told Izvestia.

— Increasing any costs increases the cost. This is an obvious factor. There is a specific situation in Russia now, when fuel is more expensive in wholesale than in retail. For example, it has risen 2.5 times in price on the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange in 3.5 months," the industry representative noted.

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At the same time, he noted: today it is important that there is no shortage of it in Russia, and farmers will not be left without it during the harvesting campaign.

Vladimir Matyagin, President of the Gruzavtotrans Association, told Izvestia that due to fuel supply disruptions, carriers were forced to increase the cost of their services by about 20%.

— The price increase is included in the cost of the service. Although now it's even a big problem for us that in a number of regions, for example, in St. Petersburg, the limit on his vacation is only 60 liters. But a minimum of 150 liters is required for transportation. So, to bring cargo from St. Petersburg to Moscow, 1,600 liters are needed for the round trip," he explained.

According to him, now cargo carriers are often forced to go around several gas stations at once in order to fully fill the tank. At the same time, they also have to stand in queues at many gas stations.

Taxi services, on the contrary, do not see any problems with price increases.

— The fuel shortage did not have a significant impact on the demand for travel in Russia. The number of orders received in the whole country corresponds to the figures of last year and varies according to seasonal dynamics," the Maxim taxi press service reported.

At the same time, the company stressed that in the regions where fuel problems were most acute, the ratio of supply and demand temporarily changed due to a significant outflow of drivers. So, in Transbaikalia, an increase in the number of orders received was noted only in the first week of restrictions, now this indicator also almost corresponds to the usual level for the summer season, the service added.

— We do not record a systemic increase in prices or an outflow of drivers due to the fuel situation. However, in a number of cities where vacation restrictions apply, drivers spend significantly more time at gas stations than usual, the Yandex Taxi press service explained to Izvestia.

They added that they understand how much this complicates the work of drivers and reduces their time on the line, so they are taking measures. The company is also negotiating with regional authorities and gas station chains to increase fuel supply limits for taxi cars.