Public utilities, communications and medicine - what Penza residents spend the most on

According to Rosstat, in January-August 2026 residents of the Penza region provided paid services in the amount of 80 554.9 million rubles. In comparable prices, this is 4.0% more than in the same period last year. The growth rate of the region exceeds both the average Russian (102.4%) and the middle circle (103.9%) levels, which indicates the stable dynamics of the service sector in the new economic reality.

Monthly statistics show uneven consumer activity. The first quarter of the year was a period of steady growth: in January, the volume of services amounted to 10,163.6 million rubles (106.3% compared to January 2025), in February - 10,835.0 million rubles (109.2%), in March - 11,330.7 million rubles (109.0%). However, since April, the dynamics began to slow down: the April figure is 10,661.0 million rubles (104.7%), the May figure is 9,857.6 million rubles (100.8%). The summer months consolidated the cooling trend: June gave 9,356.8 million rubles (100.7%), July - 9,300.6 million rubles (101.6%), August - 9,049.6 million rubles, which was only 99.5% by August last year. Thus, August was the first month in 2026, when the volume of paid services in the region was below the level of the same period in 2025.

In the structure of paid services for January-August 2026, several directions dominate. The largest share is occupied by utilities - 25.6% (20 633.3 million rubles, an increase of 5.9%). This is followed by telecommunications services - 14.1% (11 352.2 million rubles, an increase of 2.2%) and household services - 13.0% (10 502.5 million rubles, an increase of 5.5%). Medical services occupy 11.3% (9 119.3 million rubles, an increase of 5.8%), transport - 10.4% (8 389.5 million rubles, an increase of 3.8%). Close the list of housing services (6.8%), education (7.1%) and services of cultural institutions (1.4%).

The most dynamic segments for the first eight months were electronic services and services in the field of ICT - an increase of 19.4% (350.6 million rubles), as well as veterinary services - plus 14.8% (199.4 million rubles). Services of fitness centers and sports clubs added 14.3% (267.2 million rubles), the education system grew by 12.1% (5 694.3 million rubles), specialized collective accommodation facilities - by 13.5% (890.8 million rubles).

The tourism sector demonstrates the opposite dynamics: services of travel agencies and tour operators decreased by 18.2% (1,048.5 million rubles), and sanatorium and resort organizations lost 7.6% (391.3 million rubles). Housing services also showed a decrease of 4.5% (5,504.5 million rubles).

The Penza region retains a decent position in the PFO. According to the results of January-May 2026, the region shared the third place in the district in terms of the growth rate of the paid services market (+5.9%) with the Republic of Mordovia, second only to the Orenburg region (+7.2%) and Mari El (+7.1%). However, by August, the situation changed: in the Penza region, along with Mari El, Mordovia and Udmurtia, a decrease in market volume relative to the July indicator was recorded. The leaders of the Volga Federal District in terms of the absolute volume of paid services remain Tatarstan (419.8 billion rubles), Bashkortostan (332.3 billion rubles) and the Nizhny Novgorod region (270 billion rubles).

The growth of the market of paid services in the Penza region by 4% for eight months is a signal of the preservation of consumer demand even in conditions of economic turbulence. However, the cooling in August and the fall in the tourist segment indicate that households are beginning to save on unnecessary expenses. The demand for utilities, telecommunications and medical services, basic categories that cannot be abandoned, remains the most stable. The dynamics of the next months will show whether the August decline is a temporary correction or the beginning of a deeper trend to reduce consumer spending.