«The observable increase in household expenditure on non-food products is attributable to the growth of real disposable income (reaching Br2,984.9 per month, an increase of approximately 14% relative to the beginning of the previous year), the release of deferred demand, the accessibility of consumer lending, and the expansion of e-commerce platforms,» said Yulia Abukhovich.

According to her, the rising share of spending on non-food goods is directly related to a pattern of consumer behavior first described by the German scientist Ernst Engel: as a person’s income grows, their spending on food increases only slightly, while spending on manufactured goods, services, and comfort rises at a faster pace.

The expert added that rising incomes lead to a higher savings rate and greater consumption of high-quality goods and services. In 2026, Belarusians’ savings are showing active growth compared to last year. The total volume of time deposits held by individuals in Belarusian banks at the end of the first quarter of 2026 increased by 5.9% compared to the end of last year, and by nearly 20% compared to the same period last year.

«Although the change in consumption structure is modest, the share of non-food goods rose by less than 1%, it nonetheless indicates a trend toward an improved quality of life. People have disposable income left after purchasing basic food items. They can afford increasingly expensive manufactured goods, regularly upgrade smartphones and household electronics that quickly become obsolete. The lower the share of food spending in a family’s budget, the higher its social and economic status and resilience to crises. Society moves further beyond the struggle for mere survival, and people increasingly invest in their comfort, health, safety, and the aesthetics of daily life,» Yulia Abukhovich concluded.