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Books and perfumery see highest price hike among New Year gifts

The New Year gift list contains nine positions for comparison, according to statistics

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. Books and perfumery show the highest price hike as the New Year is coming, Russia’s federal statistics service Rosstat reports on Thursday.

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The "best gift" price rose 4.9% over the year to 310.9 rubles ($5.3). Eau de toilette prices amount to 1,700 rubles ($28.7), up 4.1% year-on-year.

Smartphones prices declined 5.5% in annual terms this year to 8,900 rubles ($150.3), remaining at the same time the most expensive gift in the Rosstat list. Personal towel, with the price slightly above 300 rubles ($5) is the cheapest gift, according to statistics.

The New Year gift list contains nine positions for comparison: soft toys (the average price of 523 rubles ($8.8), up 3.8% year-on-year), books (310.9 rubles ($5.2), +4,9%), mascara (455.5 rubles ($7.7),+2%), saucepans (723.9 rubles ($12.2), +3.9%), chocolate (835 rubles ($14.1), +1.1%), personal towels (300.9 rubles ($5), +3.5%), smartphones 8,900 rubles ($150.3), down 5.5%), brandy (1,300 rubles ($21.9), +1.6%), and eau de toilette (1,700 rubles ($28.7), +4.1%).

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