Boost in average check by 126 Russian rubles
In the first half of 2024, the southern regions of Russia, particularly Krasnodar Krai, Rostov, and Stavropol, have seen a significant surge in spending at gas stations. According to Sber analysts, these regions account for an impressive 84% of digital spending at gas stations nationwide.
Sberbank's Southwestern Bank Deputy Chairman, Larisa Bezdeleva, attributes this trend to several factors. The rise in residents' prosperity, the growing demand for digital payment services, the development of the suburban and resort real estate market, and the popularity of auto tourism are all contributing factors.
The regions with the most popular tourist destinations in Southern Russia and the North Caucasus, including Krasnodar Krai, Rostov, and Stavropol, have the highest spending at gas stations. Over six months, residents of these regions collectively spent 25 billion rubles (Krasnodar Krai), almost 15 billion rubles (Rostov), and over 8 billion rubles (Stavropol) at gas stations.
The average check at gas stations in Russia increased by 9% to 1,288 rubles in the first half of the year. However, in the Krasnodar region, the average check decreased by 82 rubles over six months. Men spend around 6,000 rubles a month at gas stations, while women spend half that amount.
Krasnodar Krai ranked fourth in the country by the volume of payments, following Moscow, Leningrad, and Moscow regions. More than half a million transactions were made at gas stations in the Krasnodar region over six months.
The digital car enthusiast activity in the southern regions of Russia is high, with every tenth ruble in the country being spent at southern gas stations. The spending at gas stations in the southern regions is significantly higher than in other regions in Russia.
Sber analysts analysed 195 million anonymous transactions by Russians in the "Gas Stations" category across 86 regions. Gas stations were used most frequently in June and least in February.
However, the rise in spending at gas stations may be influenced by the significant increase in gasoline prices in early 2025. Retail gasoline prices increased by more than 11% year-on-year due to refinery shutdowns from drone strikes and supply issues. While this price rise likely leads to increased spending at gas stations, it is offset partially by a lower number of fuel purchases due to weaker demand and uneven income growth.
Despite the lack of direct evidence, it is plausible that southern Russians' spending at gas stations in 2025 increased compared to 2024 primarily driven by higher fuel prices, but moderated by a lower number of fuel purchases due to weaker demand and uneven income growth.
Regarding digital payment services, no specific usage data or growth figures for southern Russia or broader Russia in 2025 are detailed in the results. For more detailed regional consumer behavior or digital payments data, specialized market research or banking sector reports would be needed.
In the first half of 2025, the surge in spending at gas stations in the southern regions of Russia, particularly Krasnodar Krai, Rostov, and Stavropol, might be attributed to higher fuel prices, offset partially by a lower number of fuel purchases due to weaker demand and uneven income growth. The digital car enthusiast activity in these regions continues to be high, with a significant portion of national spending at gas stations originating from the southern regions.
