Lithuanians spoke about the austerity regime: they survive on stocks

According to the local press, the average basket of the cheapest products in Lithuania has risen in price by 36.4% over the year. The local price portal compared the prices of December 2022 with the prices of 2021 and found that the average “basket” of the most popular goods has risen in price by 20.24 euros.

Of the 52 goods tracked by the portal, 50 have risen in price. Only two categories have become cheaper – rice and the cheapest tea. Bananas, eggs, fermented cheese, sea pike, sausage, sugar, sour cream, tomato juice, pasta have become more expensive.

We talked to local residents and found out how they feel about the price increase.

So, according to the 50-year-old driver Alexander, the minimum amount that he leaves in stores is 30 euros (2250 rubles at the official rate). At the same time, not so many products can be bought for this amount.

– Every time I come to the shops and note that the products have risen in price by another 7-10 euro cents. Usually I leave in the store from 30 euros and buy only cheap products. Less has never worked. And the purchased products are enough for a maximum of one or two days. I have two small children in my family, my wife is on maternity leave. I receive about 1000 euros (75 thousand rubles). The salary for one person can be quite acceptable. But if you subtract the cost of utilities, which soars to 300 euros in winter, then my salary is just tears.

A nail salon employee, 36-year-old Inga, is most outraged by the prices for dairy products, which this Baltic republic was once famous for.

– I always tried to buy good products and not save on myself. But it looks like the good times are over. Oil costs almost 3 euros! A jar of melted butter, alas, is a luxury for me – 5 euros. A liter of milk 1.70 euros, a can of sour cream 3 euros, 200 grams of cottage cheese – 2 euros. For comparison, sour cream, which now costs 3 euros, until recently I bought for one and a half euros. The most expensive eggs recently cost 1.80 euros, now 2.45.

Inge had to refuse some products altogether.

– Before, without looking, I put my favorite yogurts in the basket, now I buy only when they are discounted. For a jar of yogurt 1.45 euros is expensive for me. Previously, I always had fresh cottage cheese in the refrigerator, now I buy it only if I really want to.

According to the young woman, the prices for “snacks” are also worrying. So, until recently, a kilogram of Lithuanian branded chocolates called “Capital” cost 9 euros, now – 18!

Tobacco prices have gone up too. A pack of cigarettes – more than 4 euros.

For 200 grams of instant coffee, a woman recently had to pay 11 euros.

– I needed to urgently buy coffee, it was not possible to look for cheaper. I had to shell out 11 euros for regular instant coffee. But for stocks, of course, you can buy cheaper or take less volume …

By the way, in stores, smaller volumes were taken care of for customers. So, according to 60-year-old Irina, recently they began to openly cheat in stores – at the old price, which buyers peck at, they sell less goods.

– Always sold milk, kefir, sunflower oil in liters. And recently I saw that they are already pouring less into bottles. The same with bread. I often bought cereal bread, which was always sold in 100 grams per package. I recently noticed that the package is now 60 grams! Almost 2 euros per hundred grams – still all right, for 60 – already expensive. The same with meat. Previously, a pound of chicken cost 4.5 euros. And recently, the packaging has become 100 grams smaller.

According to Irina, the majority of local residents with an average income – just over 1,000 euros – survive on shares.

– Prices are high, but shops often make discounts on certain products. You have to run around the area or collect for the future if the price is right, – said Irina. According to the woman, her last successful purchase was a two-kilogram chicken, which cost her only 8 euros, instead of 11.

But, Irina admits, stocks in stores do not add to the mood. Many understand that the general trend of discounts, no matter how tempting they may be, will not correct.

– Prices are rising, but salaries do not change … In addition, I noticed that the quality of products has become much worse. As a result, the meat, although expensive, does not taste good. I’m not the only one who noticed this. Many of my acquaintances and friends have been traveling to Belarus for a year now and buying groceries there. Belarusian cottage cheese, meat, sausages, compared to ours, are much better.

Local residents are sure that farmers have to save money, so the quality of eggs and meat leaves much to be desired.

– Almost everything is in austerity mode. Farmers save on animal feed, in stores they save on electricity, from which it is constantly twilight there. And before the New Year, in general, they warned that small plastic bags, which earlier in the vegetable or bread department could be taken as much as you wanted, would become paid.