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Which Food Prices Are Rising Fastest (And Slowest) in Russia?

Data released Monday by state statistics service Rosstat show that as year-on-year food price inflation hit a startling 24.7 percent in March, price rises were by no means equal across the board.

Goods with a significant share of imports, such as sugar, have seen blistering price rises of more than 50 percent spurred by the steep devaluation of the ruble currency in the second half of 2014, which pushed up the price of imports. The ruble is currently down around one-third against the U.S. dollar since this time last year.

Other groups, such as fish and seafood, have been hit hard by Russia's embargo last August on a range of Western food imports in response to U.S. and EU sanctions on Moscow over Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis.

But in product categories where domestic production dominates — such as bread and baked goods — price rises are significantly less severe.

Here is a rundown of which food prices are rising fastest and slowest in Russia. All percentages refer to year-on-year inflation in March this year, as reported by Rosstat.

Fastest Rising Prices:

Grains and legumes: 52.9 percent

Sugar: 50.5 percent

See story: Russia Launches First Sugar Price-Fixing Cases as Inflation Rockets

Fruit and vegetables: 38 percent

See story: Cabbage Prices in Russia Rise 66% in Three Months

Fish and seafood: 33 percent

See story: Murmansk Fish Factory Sues Russian Government Over 'Illegal' Food Import Ban

Slowest Rising Prices:

Alcoholic drinks (which are not included in the total food price inflation figure): 12.6 percent

See story: Putin Orders Government to Keep Vodka Cheap as Russian Inflation Soars

Bread and baked goods: 14.8 percent

See story: As Economy Crumbles, Some Russians Might Need Coupons to Pay for Bread

Milk and dairy products: 15.7 percent

Butter: 17.6 percent

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