BNE: Number of Ukrainians in food poverty increases sixfold in two years

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Henry Kirby in London – July 14, 2015)

The number of Ukrainians who consider themselves to be in food poverty has increased sixfold in the last two years, according to a study by international polling firm TNS Global.

The survey asked 5,000 Ukrainians if they considered themselves wealthy enough to buy certain goods, ranging from televisions and large household appliances to basic necessities such as clothes and food.

In April 2013, only 1% of respondents said they did not have enough money to buy sufficient quantities of food – a figure that increased to 6% when the survey was conducted in January this year.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region, soaring energy prices and a sharp drop in industrial production has caused Ukraine to suffer double-digit inflation for well over a year, peaking at a year-on-year figure of 60.9% in April, which has slashed the purchasing power of most Ukrainians.

As the bne:Chart shows, the proportion of respondents who claim to largely be able to afford what they want has remained at a similar level, dropping only one percentage point in the last two years, from 3% to 2%, which would suggest that the economic hardships in Ukraine are only really hurting the poorest in the country.