Sochi residents complain about high prices on New Year's Eve

Throughout 2016, foodstuff prices in Sochi continued growing; and on the New Year's Eve citizens report that they have to economize in order to lay the holiday table. The traders, engaged at local fairs and marketplaces say that they have less and less buyers.

On December 23, the central Sochi marketplace was not crowded, despite the approach of the Christmas holidays, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports. The attendance of the marketplace falls from year to year, said Valery, a fishmonger.

"If we have a dozen customers per day, it's good. I guess we'll have to close our trading business. Even on such a holiday like the New Year our trade brings no revenue," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Larissa, a trader at a butcher shop, also admitted that there is no expected income from trading.

"People have no money. They buy a little, or just look and go. A kilo of pork costs 350 roubles in our shop, but people think it's too expensive. They go to big stores and supermarkets, where, I think, it's not cheaper and the foodstuffs are not so fresh," she told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Most of the visitors of the Shopping and Entertainment Centre, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, noted that they have to economize on everything even on the New Year's Eve, as commodity prices remain high, in spite of certain discounts.

"Discounts are attracting; but they are very small, if you think about it. You buy some goods at a discount, and then you realize that it was not a discount, but just a PR action," said Sergey, a Sochi resident, who bought a crate of beer at a discount action.

According to the interviewed citizens, the foodstuff prices have gone up by 25% and more compared with the last New Year, while salaries and pensions are the same.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.