In 2022, books in Russia have risen in price by 15-20%. The reason for this is the increase in the cost of printing materials imported from abroad.
Izvestia found out about this from the Russian Book Union (RKS) and from publishing houses. The increase in prices is associated with the scarcity of paper and the variation in the exchange rate, so the cost of producing books increased by 30%.
The RCC reports that a year earlier supplies came from Europe, but now from China and other Asian countries, adding to logistics costs. Rosstat confirms the price increase, but gives a more restricted dynamic of cost changes. In April 2023, fiction prices rose 7.4% year-on-year, according to the agency.
The interlocutors of the newspaper predict the continuation of the trend. According to the RCC, by the end of 2023, the cost of books will increase another 10-15%. In the first quarter of this year, product prices have already increased by 5%.
In the book networks “Chitay-Gorod” and “Book Labyrinth” they said that since the beginning of the year prices have increased by 5-6%. In the Respublika chain in May 2023, the average cost of a book increased by 6.1% compared to last year, and the average check amounted to about 1,150 rubles.
The source of the publication points out that the price of paperbacks will not increase as much. At the same time, according to the FOMIN publishing house, gift and color editions that use expensive materials are the most at risk.
The press service of the Ministry of Digital Resources assured that a working group was formed in 2022 to monitor and prevent unreasonable growth in paper prices. It included representatives from the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Federal Antimonopoly Service.
Author:
Ahmed Sadulayev
Source: RB
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