Russians Are Starting to Feel Real Economic Pain From Putin’s War

That’s a sharp contrast with earlier in the war, when gross domestic product was expanding on the back of military-linked investments that drove an almost 20% growth in wages in 2024, boosting consumer demand though also contributing to inflation.“Prices are now rising faster than wages,” said Elena, 27, an event company manager from the Moscow region. Bloomberg withheld her surname to protect her identity in case of repercussions. She’s changed her shopping habits, buying fewer clothes and more domestic br ...