Russians' incomes have risen sharply

After a disastrous start to the year in the third quarter, real disposable incomes of Russians unexpectedly rose by 3% in annual terms, said Rosstat . If in the first quarter the fall was 2.5%, in the second - 0.1%, then in January-September there was already an increase of 0.2%. This is the fastest growth since the beginning of 2018, but economists do not see an explanation for it.

Details. The sharp increase in the indicator is associated with the low base of last year and the outstripping growth of income from labor activity, the share of which amounted to 76.9% in the total structure, explains . Rosstat

They talk about it. Economist Kirill Tremasov points out that for the quarter in nominal terms, the average per capita income of Russians grew by 7.8%, which is higher than the growth rate of both wages and pensions. The discrepancy can hardly be explained by the growth of income from property and business activity in the conditions of lower rates and stagnation of business activity, but theoretically it can be a consequence of an adjustment from the balance of income/expenses. “In a word, the figure raises questions,” the expert writes.

• In the basic version of the macro forecast for 2020, the growth in real incomes of Russians is expected to be at the level of 1.5%, however, the Accounts Chamber doubts the realism of even such an estimate.
• According to official data from Rosstat, Russians have become poorer by 11.7% over five years. The same Rosstat admits that almost half of Russian families by the end of last year could only afford to buy food and clothes, there was not enough money for durable goods.
• a drop in incomes Economists also record , accompanying this assessment with a disappointing forecast: real incomes of Russians will fall in 2019, while poverty will not decrease, economists at the Higher School of Economics and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) say.
• The Accounts Chamber adheres to the same forecast, stating that in the first half of this year, “real incomes of citizens fell (by 1.3%), despite an increase in accrued wages by 1.8% and assigned pensions by 0.8%.”

Find out more. Armed with statistics, The Bell compared Russia in terms of income growth with its closest neighbors - Ukraine and Belarus, rapidly growing China, Eastern European Poland and the developed United States. What the results were - you can find out here .