You're reading: Poll: Forty-five percent of Russians view situation in country’s economy as bad

MOSCOW - The proportion of Russians viewing the economic situation in Russia negatively has lowered from January's 54 percent to 45 percent, the Public Opinion Foundation said.

The proportion of those who describe the situation as satisfactory, on the contrary, has slightly increased – 45 percent compared to 41 percent at the beginning of the year. The situation was described as good by 6 percent (3 percent in January), the poll, which was conducted among 1,500 respondents in 104 populated localities of Russia’s 53 constituent entities on July 23-24, showed.

In the opinion of 42 percent of Russians, the economic situation in the country is getting worse lately; 13 percent of respondents believe the contrary. Thirty-five percent have not noticed any changes in this sector, and 9 percent were undecided.

According to the poll, changes for the better in household income have happened for 21 percent of respondents in the last year, and 39 percent of respondents noticed a negative trend. The other 40 percent said that none of these applied to their incomes.

Overall, the aggregated family income of 11 percent of Russians increased in the last year; in the families of 36 percent it decreased, and almost did not change for 51 percent. In the opinion of 44 percent of Russians, aggregated family income will change very little in the next year. Sixteen percent voiced hope that it will increase, 17 percent believe the contrary and 23 percent of respondents were undecided.

At the same time, according to 57 percent of Russians, household spending increased in the last year. One in ten (11 percent) said that, on the contrary, it decreased. More than a third (30 percent) noticed no changes. Forty-eight percent of Russians expect an increase in their household spending in the next year, 8 percent expect a decrease, and 26 percent expect no changes.