Third of Russians say country is in economic crisis

(Interfax – MOSCOW, October 15, 2013) A relative majority of Russians thinks that the national economic situation is deteriorating, and a third claims an economic crisis has already started, the Public Opinion Foundation said.

Some 40% of the respondents polled in October alleged economic deterioration; the indicator stood at 28% two years ago.

Discontent was expressed primarily by the respondents with a monthly income from 4,000 to 9,000 rubles (49%), residents of million-plus cities (48%) and cities with populations from 25,000 to one million (46%), Muscovites (46%) and the so-called “21st century people” (45%).

The number of optimistic respondents dipped by 5%, from 18% in 2011 to 13% this year. Thirty-two percent of the respondents said nothing had changed.

Thirty percent argued that Russia had already plunged into an economic crisis, and 31% anticipated the threat of a crisis.

Only 14% said there was no risk of a crisis in the country, and a quarter failed to assess the national economic situation.

The foundation polled 1,500 respondents in 100 towns and cities in 43 regions.