00:00Russia's economy is heating up, and inflation is hitting hard.
00:04President Vladimir Putin just addressed this critical issue during his annual phone-in
00:08event, raising concerns about the nation's financial health.
00:12Putin acknowledged the overheating economy and soaring inflation, urging the central
00:17bank to take a balanced approach in its upcoming key-rate decision.
00:21Experts predict a dramatic interest rate hike to 23 percent, the highest in over 20 years.
00:28But what does this mean for everyday Russians?
00:31Inflation is expected to reach 9.2 percent in 2025, driven by skyrocketing food prices.
00:37Just last week, tomatoes jumped 4.1 percent, and cucumbers a staggering 10 percent.
00:43For many households, 1,000 rubles now buy far less than before.
00:48Some Russians are even resorting to theft as staples like butter become unaffordable.
00:53Inflation isn't just numbers.
00:54It's a harsh reality felt in every pocket.
00:57While Putin supports tight monetary policies, he also hinted that earlier actions could
01:02have eased the burden.
01:04He blamed not just economic overheating, but also Western sanctions and extreme weather
01:09for rising prices.
01:11So what's next?
01:13A cooling economy, with growth predicted to slow to 2 to 2.5 percent in 2025.
01:19A soft landing, Putin calls it.
01:22For ordinary Russians, the challenge remains—making ends meet amid this financial storm.
01:28Will these measures bring relief?
01:30Or will inflation continue to weigh down Russia's economy?
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