Are you feeling the crisis?

[peacetraveler22]

We see the word "crisis" constantly thrown around in text and news articles, but I want to know the reality of the situation for the average person living in Russia. I understand almost nothing about the financial markets, and my investments are all handled by stockbrokers with expertise in the area. Yet I go to the gas station each week and see the gas prices continually drop, which is great for me given that I commute a very long distance to work now. Travel is also less costly with the strength of the dollar, whereas many Russian friends no longer can afford to go abroad due to the continual decrease in the ruble. So, are all of these stories on LJ simply written by alarmists and pessimists, or do you feel there's a real crisis now in Russia as a result of sanctions and economics, which dramatically impacts your life? If so, in what way? Do you have hope for improvement in 2016?

Comments

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Inside the country I feel no crisis.
But of course it has become much more expensive to travel abroad.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Well this is good news. :) And, in general, I know you have great faith in the political leadership of your country.

[barabaan.livejournal.com]

Impacts, but not dramatically. I think its usefull for Russia.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In what way is it useful? To build domestic production and tourism?

[el-loko.livejournal.com]

"Crisis" is not the correct word for these circumstances.
I feel final of epoch.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In what way is this crisis different from others in Russian history? Seems like the history of the country is rather cyclical.

[irinalk89.livejournal.com]

I started to forget the view of babushkas going to supermarkets and counting every kopeck, which they do not have enough to buy simple food. Last time I saw them was in 90-ies. Almost in every family surronding me one person lost a job in 2014 and remains jobless. Supermarkets changed the products they are offering towards cheaper ones. By the way, gas is getting more expensive day by day.

Это такой способ жить - от кризиса и до кризиса

[andrey-kaminsky.livejournal.com]

Currently people don't yet have a sufficient sense of crisis. Money became less, but many things have been purchased previously and still not come into disrepair. Then, when people come to the need to buy new shoes, a computer, a battery for the car, then many will enjoy the fullness of sensations.

Re: Это такой способ жить - от кризиса и до кризиса

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

My wife just has bought a pair of shoes with great discount.
It is mostly a sellers' problem now who cannot make 300% profit on import anymore.

Before the crisis Lego in Moscow cost almost 2 times more than in USA.
IKEA in Moscow also was one of the most expensive in the world.
This is something wrong with it.
I hope now they will be forced to have lower prices of leave the market.

[mesier.livejournal.com]

For me crisis is felt in form of 2x rising prices, including domestic foods, but not for salary..
My hopes for future are related with growth of domestic production.

[sergechel.livejournal.com]

Do not believe all these 'no crisis' lies you see here. Overal situation is pretty bad, especially out of Moscow.

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

In Moscow is bad too.

There are a lot of simple people in Moscow, who have real income less than 1000$

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

Pizdets.

I lost my job twice for last two years.

My total income is down 3x from 2013. In $.
In the end 2013 i planned to buy new flat new car in two years(2014-2015).
No it's impossible.

Sales of cars and real property are down.
Nobody buys.

The fucking goverment stealing all money from people:
Salary is down. Taxes are up.
Cost of gas, water and another public servies cost is up and running to the hell.
Pension is not up.
Corruption, robberies, angry migrants from Asia.

And all russian deputies, ministers and another rich people says: Obama - guilty. USA is evil.

[mesier.livejournal.com]

Пенсии подняли в 2015 году на 12%. На 2016 год план два раза поднять - на 6% в феврале и ещё раз на неизвестное в конце года. )
Ты ещё упоминал про налоги.. Какие подняли? На сколько я знаю - никакие.

[konstinn.livejournal.com]

It's not a crisis it's economic disaster! It's quite not visible in Moscow, but in regions it's real disaster.
Unfortunately there are no chances of improving in Russia-2016

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

Olimpiada, Crimea, FIFA-2018, vodka, red army, tovarisch.

[beloborodoff.livejournal.com]

Yes crisis is real gre in Russina. Rouble falls. We have oil economy, pump oil and buy everything abroad. So everything double its price now. Salaries shrinking, people loosing jobs, everywere CLOSED signs. About plans. It will be worse. Even goverment says so.

[a-nimaida.livejournal.com]

in the US there is no crisis?
US stock market has not collapsed?
  the dollar has risen in price in the world.
  Who will buy American goods?

[sergechel.livejournal.com]

She's asking about situation in Russia

[notabler.livejournal.com]

You should ask people, who live outside of Moscow, because Moscow is a different country. It is just huge money pump from other. If regional budget has only 20% local income, and all other come from centre, it means they will always struggle to survive and crisis strikes there first

[mat-uc.livejournal.com]

Just look at official russian TV:
- Obama is a bad homosecsual.
- USA - evil.
- Europe - stupid.
- Ukraine - very evil.
- North Korea - our best friend.

USA is going to Great Depression. Russia is going to be the most powerful country in the World. Like a North Korea.

[g-kar.livejournal.com]

I envy the people who watch this :)

[petr-rpc.livejournal.com]

Ваше правительство как после второй мировой войны навязало всем доллар, так до сих пор пожинает плоды. Это не будет длиться вечно)

[merinainen.livejournal.com]

Вы чё? Когда это в России доллар был национальной валютой??? С дуба рухнули?

[justadreamer.livejournal.com]

Кому как, а нам в Козельске пофигу на этот кризис.

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

В Козельске нет желания жить по людски?

[merinainen.livejournal.com]

People've started to consume less, quality of food products plummeted sharply, overall mood of our population is rather gloomy. There's nothing good to expect.

[vasha-masha.livejournal.com]

Я чувствую снижение моей покупательной способности, но пока не критично. В целом мы просто стали меньше откладывать денег.
Кризис я связываю с нефтяными ценами, а не с санкциями. Санкции в длительной перспективе- это способ выхода из кризиса через подъем собственных производств.

[kichiro-sora.livejournal.com]

Какие европейские санкции вообще могли повлиять на экономическую ситуачию в России? Запрет на вьезд Кабзона?

[ananastya.livejournal.com]

I'm an old follower of your LJ, and I enjoy your posts greatly. Thank you for writing!
For me and my family the current "crisis" ( or whatever we may call it) lies in the almost complete loss of hope for a more or less stable future, and I'm not talking 50 yrs, I'm talking 3-5 yrs. And what happens in the big picture doesn't really matter if you just have no idea whether you'll be able to afford milk and eggs in a month. Let alone affording kids, etc etc etc.  It's scary. It doesn't even matter for me how cyclic history is. Each of us only has one life to live.
Plus, a drastic decrease in moral standards is also quite felt ..

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Hello! Thanks for your message. I'm always happy to hear from readers who have followed my blog for a long time, but rarely comment. I'm sorry you're feeling hopeless for the future. :( I do hope things improve quickly, such that you and your family can feel some stability in life. Thanks for reading my blog! :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Personally, I find every GOP candidate disgusting and their policies contradict almost everything for which I stand. I watch the debates, and just shake my head in disbelief. I can't even imagine the thought of a loud mouth bigot like Trump leading the USA. Democratic nominees aren't much better, but at least I mostly agree with their social policies. So, as usual, we will be forced to pick the lesser of two evils come election time.

[Макс (from livejournal.com)]

Don't listen to them. This crisis has a huge impact on the economy and the welfare of the people. Actually we are on the edge of a total collapse and I think we are going to fall into it. There is almost no chance that we will get away with it if the price of oil keeps at the current level.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

So how does Putin maintain such high ratings and approval when so many citizens believe their lives and country are falling apart?

[alter ego (from livejournal.com)]

на моём предприятии (mining and mineral processing equipment) валовая прибыль за 2015 увеличилась (в рублях) втрое, открыли представительство в юар, начались продажи в индонезию, сингапур и ближний восток (это помимо африки), была одна продажа в канаду (Saskatchewan). это что касается работы.
а в жизни- да, францию или тайланд уже вряд ли потяну, но мне всегда крым нравился больше всего (я сам с крыма, its my homeland/native land). продукты и всё остальное однозначно подорожали. например, обед в школьной столовой (у меня две дочки) для старших классов- 156 рублей (2,02USD), для младших - 86 рублей (1,11USD). Санкт-Петербург.

[merinainen.livejournal.com]

Ресурсы Родины распродаете? Ай-яй-яй!

[Максим Бобров (from livejournal.com)]

I work for large US corp here in Russia. They are happy that they should spend less for our salary now. Now russian developers are cheaper than ones from India. Yes, the salary is in rubbles starting from 2004.

[pivovaroffs.livejournal.com]

Yes, I feel it.
12-13% annual inflation rate is twice as high as previous rates.
I got a 25% pay rise when changed work in 2014 - and now these 25% are gone due to inflation.

[prevedkraeved.livejournal.com]

That's fine, I think! But it simply amaze you!

[theodorexxx.livejournal.com]

Putin thought oil would cost 50$ and 1$ would cost 60 rubles. Now it's 29$ and 77 rubles respectively.
I read today that if oil price drops to 25$ russian fiscal deficit will be equal to amount of money in the Governmental fund. Lol, that fund was intended to be used for development past 2025. Lol, now financial officials ain't sure if 2016 will be worse than 2017