The impact of COVID-19 on the costs of Ukrainians

In the second wave of the Global Advisor survey, Ipsos continued to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of Ukrainians. In particular, the impact of the coronavirus on the costs of Ukrainian households - whether they have changed and, if so, how much.
64% of respondents indicated that in general, since the beginning of the pandemic, their costs and the costs of their families have increased - 31% said that their costs have increased significantly, 33% - slightly increased.
 

Among the reasons for the increase in costs, half (51%) indicated that they incurred additional costs due to the fact that they currently spend more time at home (including work). Occasionally, according to our other Consumer Barometer * survey, in early April, 37% of Ukrainians worked part-time or on the distance (72% of those working at the time).
In addition, a significant proportion of respondents (41%) were forced to make more expensive purchases (eg food, household goods, personal care products, etc.) or pay for the delivery of goods due to store closures.
Every fifth respondent (21%) spent more on goods and services to relieve stress caused by quarantine / isolation, such as food, alcohol, furniture, electronics, books, toys
Probably as a result, spending on food and household goods (62% of respondents), utilities and telephone services, Internet services (49%), personal care and beauty (41%) increased. According to the Ipsos Consumer Barometer¹, at the beginning of quarantine measures (end of March) 69% of respondents were not going to save on food, 52% - on mobile communications and Internet services, 27%²  - on utilities.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus epidemic, 45% of respondents have increased spending on heathcare and medicines in general, and 4% of respondents have paid for medical care directly related to COVID-19.
In terms of cost reduction, since the beginning of the coronavirus, 30% have spent less on entertainment, 27% - on transport and the same - 27% - on clothing, shoes, accessories.
 

The impact of COVID-19 on the costs of Ukrainians, in addition to the short-term effect, also affected the changes in their attitudes to the future - most are willing to spend less.
 

¹Consumer Barometer -
 ²It is worth noting that the intention to economize on utilities changed within two months - if in March 27% said they would not economize on these services, then in early June, 42% were not going to save on utilities. The share of those who were willing to save remained stable at 17-20% level.