Gaskets and photocopying of documents: Rosstat named the most expensive goods and services in 2022

Rosstat disclosed the most expensive and depreciated goods and services in 2022. Thus, according to the department, iodine became the commodity that rose in price last year the most.

Its average cost in December 2022 increased by 55.2% compared to December 2021.

Annual inflation, according to Rosstat, was 11.9% in 2022, lower than forecasts at the beginning of the year.

Among the approximately 560 goods and services tracked by the Russian statistics agency, prices for tourism services have risen the most. Their rise in price was observed against the backdrop of Western sanctions on the aviation industry and restrictions on foreign exchange transactions.

In addition, the top ten most expensive goods and services included matches (+50.8%), photocopying of documents (48.1%), toilet soap (44.2%), women’s pads (43.5%), new passenger cars (39.1%) and deodorants (38.8%).

The main surge in prices occurred in March-June, when, due to sanctions and the disruption of supply chains, problems with the import of goods and components were most acute, and the ruble exchange rate was weak. For example, the same iodine in March rose in price by 12% compared to February, in April – by 8%, in May – by almost 5%, in June – by 8%. Then the dynamics stabilized.

Ksenia Bondarenko, senior lecturer at the Department of World Economy at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at the Higher School of Economics, told RBC that the increase in iodine prices was due to the fact that almost all of it is imported from abroad, and logistics prices increased in 2022. According to her, in the whole world, especially in European countries, the demand for iodine increased last year.