Russians will remember 2011 for the Libyan upheaval and Fukushima tragedy as major world events and parliamentary elections as major Russian event.

MOSCOW, December 22, 2011. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the research on the mood that Russians have in the end of 2011 and in the beginning of 2012; what events attracted their attention most, and how Russians are going to celebrate the New Year Eve.

One-third of Russians are meeting the new year and saying good-bye to the old year with optimism (34%). As usual, half of respondents report they do not feel any upturn, neither have they negative emotions, (50%). Those who are pessimistic are in the minority; the share of them has reached its minimum since 2008 (10%).

The Russians` assessments of 2011 look more positive than in the previous year: for 57% of Russians the year was good (42% in 2009). The assessments on a national scale have also improved: 2009 was positively assed only by 20% of respondents; now their number has doubled (40%).

More Russians have positive view of their future: 65% expect that 2012 will be good (49% expected the same from 2009). The forecast on Russia`s future looks similar: 54% of Russians expect next year to be positive for Russia (in the end of 2008 only 38% of Russians thought so).

The major world events cited by Russians are Libyan upheaval and the Fukushima accident in Japan (11% per each). Top five major world events also involve world crisis, eurozone crisis (8%), Arabic revolution (6%), and Russian State Duma elections (5%). Russians also will remember 2011 for the Russia`s accession to the WTO, natural disasters and upheaval in Egypt (3% for each group). The Yaroslavl plane crash and the “Locomotive” team death, development of anti-missile defense system program and terrorist attacks (2% per each) were also mentioned by respondents.

According to respodnents, the main event of 2011 in the Russian politics was Russian State Duma elections (34%). The remainder point out the following events: Russia`s accession to the WTO (5%), A.Kudrin`s resignation (4%), Putin`s nomination for the Presidency (2%). The most shocking catastrophe of the past year for Russians was the death of the Locomotive team in Yaroslavl (2%). Other events were mentioned by not more than 1% of Russians.

The death of Locomotive team holds the first position among the events most mentioned by respondents; the Internet users put the Libyan upheaval on the first place. The second place is held by the sinking of the Bulgaria boat; the third place is taken by the football events; the internet users mention Eurovision Song Contest, and the resignation of Steve Jobs. Besides, the internet users report they mourn for Steve Jobs, whereas Russians in general mourn for Lyudmila Gurchenko. 

In January the attention of respondents were attracted by the Domodedovo terrorist attack; in March – Japanese tsunami; in April – terrorist attack in the Minsk subway; in May – the activity of Dmitry Medvedev; in July – the sinking of the Bulgaria boat; in September – the death of the Locomotive team; and the year ended with the State Duma elections.

The greatest scandal of the year was the resignation of Yury Luzhkov (7%). The second place is held by the parliamentary elections and meetings against the official results of elections (5% for each). Top five scandals also involve arrest of Yulia Timoshenko (3%), resignation of A.Kudrin (2%), arrest of V. Baturin (2%).

As before, most of Russians are planning to celebrate the New Year Eve at home (72%, a year ago - 76%). The share of those who are going to visit friends has increased (from 12 to 16% over three years).  Other options are less popular among Russians: going to restaurant (club or dance party) is chosen by 3%, dacha – 2%, countryside – 3%.

The average sum of money Russians spend for the New Year has increased by 12% compared with the previous year and makes up 6953 rubles (a year ago it was 6168 rubles). The most expensive item is New Year presents (2497 rub in average); food for New Year table are less expensive item (2417 rub), followed by children`s new year parties, other parties and restaurants (2040 rub). 

Most popular presents are souvenirs (31%), sweets, delicatessens and alcohol (29%), toys (25%), perfumery, cosmetics and bijouterie (23%). The number of those who would like to present money (10%), clothes and shoes, domestic appliances (7% for each), flowers (6%), mobile phone (5%), audio-, video- and dvd-discs (4%) has decreased. The least popular options are tickets to theater, or diner at a restaurant, photo, audio or video products (2% for each), computer, car, and tour package (1% per each). Remarkably, the share of those who are not going to give any presents has reached its minimum over the whole period of measurement (10% against 12-16% in other years).

The most desirable present according to Russians would be money (15% versus 10% a year ago). Respondents also would like to have perfumery, cosmetics and bijouterie (11%), souvenirs, sweets and delicatessens (9% for each), jewelry, tour package (8% for each), car, photo, audio products, video appliances  (7% for each), and mobile phone (6%). This is followed by domestic appliances (5%), clothes and shoes, flowers, tickets to concerts and theater (4% for each). Less important presents are computer, toys, audio-, video- and dvd- discs (2% for each).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted December 17-18, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!