Ukraine tensed in anticipation of a jump in prices

Ukrainians are preparing for the most difficult winter in 31 years of independence. Everyone is aware that due to the ongoing hostilities, food prices will noticeably jump everywhere. This is indicated by the exorbitant price tags for fuels and lubricants, the return of excise taxes on fuel, the violation of supply chains and, finally, the hryvnia exchange rate against the dollar, which is growing almost every week. Those who assess the situation adequately do not waste time in vain: they stock up on food for the future, as long as such an opportunity remains.

The process did not go unnoticed at the top of Kyiv. Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food Nikolai Solsky commented on what was happening in a mocking manner characteristic of the pro-presidential Servant of the People party. Say, you are on the right path, dear fellow countrymen – only, for Christ’s sake, try to keep yourself within the boundaries of common sense, so that you do not have to puzzle over where to sell the contents of your bins that have become unusable. As the minister explains, now much depends on the “standard inflation”, which is changing in one direction or another. The second important factor is the exchange rate difference, which cannot but affect prices in Ukrainian hryvnia. The third circumstance that can inspire some optimism in the hearts of compatriots is the increase in grain exports promised by the West (it is critically important for the republic) and the reduction in the cost of logistics, which will automatically increase domestic prices for the same grain and is important for farmers.

In the first ten days of October, analysts of the Ukrainian agricultural market advise fellow countrymen to pay attention to the buckwheat harvest of 2022. We have sown it on fairly large areas, and the “peculiar” summer weather contributed to a good harvest. On average, both in supermarkets and in the markets, buckwheat costs 82 hryvnia (135 Russian rubles) today. But you can try to find it cheaper.

With butter, unlike the mentioned cereals, everything is not so clear. Prices fluctuate depending on the manufacturer. On average, a 200-gram pack costs from 57 to 62 hryvnia (from 94 to 102 rubles).

Salo in the fall of 2022 throughout Ukraine is becoming more expensive even faster than meat. There are regions where, as they say in Odessa, you will not find him “by day with fire and sword.” In the Sumy region bordering Russia, the product can be bought for 200 hryvnias (330 rubles), the same price in Kyiv, however, in the capital region, animal husbandry traditionally “stands on its feet”, that is, there is a rich choice of a product traditional for Ukrainians. “General’s fat” (with meat streaks, outwardly resembling general’s stripes) costs 400 UAH. and above (660 rubles).

In the western regions, thanks to the influx of food imports (primarily from Poland), lard is noticeably cheaper. Therefore, its average price in Ukraine is around 132 hryvnias (218 rubles).

Eggs, on the other hand, are a problem. Back in August, a dozen could be bought for 29 hryvnia (48 rubles). In September, the same eggs jumped to 49 UAH. (81 rubles) and, which is depressing, continue to rise in price. Now in stores you can buy them for 55-60 hryvnia (91-99 rubles). In this sense, the villagers help out, arranging plastic bags brought to the city with “presents” from their layers. Yesterday, for example, such homemade eggs were offered no more than 50 hryvnia (82 rubles). Until the end of 2022, such a price, according to experts, is unlikely to hold. The pessimistic forecast says: the cost of a dozen chicken eggs of the highest category will approach the mark of 100 UAH. (164 rubles).

Bread produced in Ukraine has become 30% more expensive since the beginning of the SVO. And by the end of December, compared with February 24, the price increase could be 37 percent. On the example of a 300-gram package of black bread “Velvet Night” made from premium flour – in February it cost 13 and a little hryvnia (21 rubles). The day before yesterday, for the same kind of bread, they took almost 18 UAH. (30 rubles).

Vegetable prices are also rising. Round red tomatoes, for example, from the recent 36 hryvnias began to be traded at 50 hryvnias per kilo (59 rubles – 82 rubles), pink tomatoes are sold for 60 hryvnia / kg (99 rubles). Cucumbers, thank God, have “dropped” from 60 hryvnia to 55 (91 rubles). Carrots cost 17 UAH/kg (28 rubles), beets – 5 hryvnias (8 rubles) for large root crops, 10 UAH. (16 rubles) for the average. Potatoes, which have recently been sold at almost every city intersection, cost the buyer 6 hryvnia per kilogram (10 rubles).

Next month, Ukrainian economic experts predict a 15-20% rise in prices for grain and bread (due to known export restrictions), as well as butter and sugar. The inflation rate by the end of this year will be about 30 percent. At such a rate, some food products can rise in price by 50%, and by 70%, and even by 100%. Bread is also likely to become expensive, because its price includes a significant part of the cost of gas and electricity.

“The economy must be economical”

An indispensable “entourage” of most Ukrainian supermarkets is the impatient crowds of buyers at the entrance in connection with the just announced air raid alert. In some retail outlets, at its first sounds, cashiers in an emphatically calm voice invite buyers to stop looking at goods and immediately go to the cashier for payment. In other supermarkets, cash registers are blocked immediately after a warning of danger, the customer leaves the store, mumbling unflattering words… The resumption of work of such supermarkets sometimes happens an hour after the end of the air raid alarm.

While the store is closed, I am talking at the door with my neighbor Lydia.

– As a rule, colleagues from my former job in the supermarket call me: come, they say, by such and such a time, the discounts will be grandiose. Some store employees collected oil for 19 hryvnias (31 Russian rubles) at once in 20 or 30 packs! But I’m not greedy, I took as much as I wanted at that time. Moreover, the pantry in the apartment, and both refrigerators, and the section in the basement of my apartment building are stuffed to the brim with food.

Lydia’s son and husband visit an inconspicuous men’s barbershop, where a haircut costs a maximum of 60 hryvnia (99 rubles). Nowhere in the city, as it seems to me, is the service of the stronger sex so cheap now. Another discovery for me: a make-up artist and a manicurist provide their services to Lydia at her home. It costs the client about 30-35% cheaper than if she herself stomped to a beauty salon. I hesitated to specify the exact cost of the work. But if we usually ask for at least 200 hryvnias (330 rubles) for a haircut with styling and drying of hair, the savings for each visit to the client’s home is 60 hryvnias (99 rubles). As they say, it seems to be a trifle, but nice.

Is this whole search for cheapness degrading to a woman? According to my interlocutor, from childhood she was accustomed in the family to thrift in housekeeping.

Communal – literally worth its weight in gold

If we are talking about savings on utilities, then in the Ukrainian regions the tariffs are different for the same thing. It was only in the USSR that a kilowatt of electricity cost any of the fellow citizens 4 kopecks, and the rent has not risen in price since 1928.

More or less “unified” in modern Ukraine is considered only the payment for electricity. If the family “fits” into spending up to 250 kW/h, they must pay monthly at the rate of 1 hryvnia 44 kopecks per kilowatt (2 rubles 37 kopecks). Did you spend more? Please pay UAH 1.68 for each kilowatt. (2.77 rubles).

Expenses for water supply, for natural gas and other benefits of civilization depend on local authorities. In Vinnitsa, in particular, centralized heating in the presence of thermal energy meters in the apartment costs 1,800 hryvnias (2,966 Russian rubles) per gigocalorie. The most inexpensive gas – subject to the conclusion of a direct contract by the consumer with NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine – will cost the homeowner almost 8 hryvnias per cubic meter of fuel. Other suppliers – Gazovik LLC, Your Gazsbyt LLC or Vinnytsia Gazsbyt LLC will “rip off” from a citizen who is a little more, but who is completely “shamelessly.” According to my friends in Vinnitsa, they spend from 2 up to 4 thousand hryvnias (from 3296 to 6591 rubles); Remember, winter hasn’t started yet.

After two and a half weeks of continuous heavy rains, sunny weather has settled in most Ukrainian regions. Despite the fact that several weeks remained before the traditional opening date of the heating season, that is, until October 15, in a number of cities, local authorities were forced to supply heat to hospitals and kindergartens, maternity hospitals and perinatal centers. When dampness prevails around, it becomes extremely uncomfortable even for an absolutely healthy person …