Russian consumers are switching to cheaper cigarettes under the influence of unfavorable economic situation and the growth of prices because of the increase in excise taxes. This is reported by “Interfax” with the reference to the statement of the partner of the tobacco group of the Nielsen company in Russia.

      According to the research held by Nielsen, the market is currently experiencing a decrease of premium and “medium-premium” segments with the increase in the “medium low” and the low-price segments. In particular, the size of the premium segment, where the price of a pack of cigarettes exceeds 90 roubles, fell by half a percent in the first five months of 2015, as compared with the average index of 2014. It made up 12.6 percent of the total market. The share of the “medium premium” segment (the price of packages from 75 to 90 roubles) also decreased by 0.3 percent - down to 22.31 percent of the market. At the same time, the “medium low” segment increased by one percent – up to 34.42 percent of the market.