OREANDA-NEWS  In the first half of 2026, the majority of Russians began to behave more economically amid a slowdown in real income growth and expensive loans. The Izvestia newspaper reports on the change in consumer behavior of citizens, citing data provided in the July report of the Central Bank (CB).

In general, in the first six months of this year, the consumer activity of Russians increased by 4.8 percent compared to the same period in 2025. However, such a trend has led to a change in the consumer habits of citizens, according to the Regional Economy report.

The regulator identified the savings of Russians as one of the main trends. Citizens began to prefer budget purchases more often. We are talking, for example, about the purchase of furniture or household appliances. The Central Bank called the active transition of citizens to marketplaces another important trend, which was facilitated, in particular, by discounts.