An economist explained to Nizhny Novgorod residents how inflation is calculated.

      April 3, 2026 08:00 Economy Inflation in Russia is calculated based on the so-called consumer basket — a set of goods and services purchased by the average family. Its cost changes over time, and the annual price change reflects the level of inflation. The calculations are conducted by Rosstat.

      As the chief economist of the economic department of the Bank of Russia, Ivan Grechin, explained, the consumer basket includes more than 550 items. It includes food products, clothing, utilities, household appliances, cars, furniture, building materials, and even pet food.

      The composition of the basket is formed based on the structure of household expenditures. Both everyday goods and those that are purchased rarely, such as cars, are taken into account. If consumer preferences change, the list of goods and services is also adjusted.

      Thus, in 2026, the list was supplemented with new items. Lipstick and liquid laundry detergents were included, as they are in steady demand. Among dairy products, kefir is now accounted for as a separate category. Additionally, courier delivery services were added to the basket.

      At the same time, several items that have lost relevance were removed from the list. In particular, services for replacing batteries in wristwatches are no longer considered. Disinfectants for surfaces and medical masks, which were added during the pandemic, were also removed from the basket.

      The expert emphasized that the consumer basket reflects an averaged structure of expenditures, so personal inflation for each individual may differ from the official one.

      However, there is a correlation between them: if official inflation decreases, the price growth felt by citizens usually slows down as well.

      Official indicators serve as a guideline for financial decisions, noted the public relations and financial literacy department of the Bank of Russia. In particular, if deposit rates exceed the level of inflation, it allows not only to preserve but also to increase savings. Conversely, when inflation slows down, it makes sense to consider a possible decrease in loan rates.

      It was previously reported that inflation in the Nizhny Novgorod region was 5.6% in February.

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