2 way crossfire: Radeon RX Vega 64 2-way CrossFire Performance in FurMark (vs GTX 1080)

Are Multi-GPU Setups Worth it in 2020?

Due to the fact that most modern games rely heavily on GPUs in order to run properly, gamers must have a powerful graphics card in their system if they want to be able to run their favorite games on higher settings.

And, if you want to max out today’s top games at higher resolutions (1440P, 4K, and beyond), even more graphics processing power is required.

While the ideal solution to handle more demanding games at higher resolutions (and higher refresh rates) is always just to grab the best graphics card available (right now that’s a GTX 1080 Ti), there is the option for some (especially those with unlimited budgets) to utilize multiple graphics cards in the same setup in order to try and get even more performance out of their systems.

Both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs offer technology (SLI and CrossFire) that allows 2-4 of their graphics cards to work together in a single system to help deliver more GPU power. But, is running multiple GPUs in SLI or CrossFire configuration an option that is worth considering?

In this article, we’re going to break down how SLI and CrossFire work and how they’re different, as well as discuss what some of the pitfalls are that come with running multiple graphics cards.

SLI vs CrossFire: A Primer on How They Work and the Differences Between Them

Both SLI and CrossFire accomplish the same thing: they allow a system to split the load of processing graphics-related data between multiple graphics cards.

Theoretically, having multiple graphics cards split up the workload of processing frames means that your system can render frames more quickly, but as you’ll see further down in this post, multi-GPU configurations don’t offer a linear scaling of performance (although, in certain games, dual GPUs can produce a near doubling of performance in terms of average framerate).

But, before we get into some of the pitfalls of multi-GPU configurations, let’s discuss the differences between SLI and CrossFire.

First, SLI is NVIDIA’s multi-GPU solution whereas CrossFire is AMD’s multi-GPU solution. Again, both are similar technologies in that they both allow you to utilize multi-graphics cards in the same system.

Both technologies also operate in two different modes:

Split frame rendering: Essentially, the GPUs split up the workload of processing each frame. So, one GPU will work on one “portion” of the frame and the other GPU will work on the remaining portion
Alternate frame rendering: The GPUs split up the workload by working on alternate frames. GPU 1 will handle frames 1,3,5… and so on, and GPU 2 will handle frames 2,4,6…

However, there are a couple of main differences to be aware of:

SLI requires you to use identical GPUs (so a GTX 1080 can only be SLI’d with another GTX 1080—although, the brand of the card doesn’t matter), whereas CrossFire will work with different GPUs of the same architecture (an RX 580 can be CrossFired with an RX 570, but not with an R9 390)
SLI requires that the two cards be connected with a cable or SLI bridge. AMD cards used to require that the multiple cards be connected, but in updated versions, AMD GPUs in CrossFire configuration now just communicate via PCIe 3.0
SLI configurations are generally more expensive than CrossFire configurations because NVIDIA requires motherboard manufacturers to pay to be “SLI” certified, whereas AMD doesn’t require any kind of certification and, as a result, there are lot more motherboards—including budget-friendly options—that support CrossFire.

The Pitfalls of Using Multiple Graphics Cards

While utilizing multiple graphics cards has been a great way to help users get more in-game performance out of their systems, in recent years, the performance advantage of running SLI or CrossFire systems has diminished slightly.

In the past, more game developers took the time to develop their games to be compatible with multi-GPU technology. Nowadays, though, fewer developers are working to optimize their games for SLI and CrossFire configurations.

Still, though, running dual GPUs can provide a nice increase, with many benchmarks showing ~50% higher improvements when adding a second card.

Questions do surround the future of dual-GPU setups, though. NVIDIA themselves have even pulled back on SLI support on a few of their latest generation cards. Only the GTX 1070 or higher can be SLId. The GTX 1060 can technically be set up in multi-GPU configurations, but it is not officially supported by NVIDIA (they have not included the SLI connection ports on 1060s).

Another downside of running SLI or CrossFire setups is the costs involved make them a tough buy for anyone that has any kind of restrictions on their budget.

While one could argue that since dual GTX 1070s cost only slightly more than a single GTX 1080 Ti and often outperform a single 1080 Ti in benchmarks, that they offer a similar (or better) price-to-performance. However, the reality is that dual GTX 1070s will require you to spend more money on your power supply, motherboard, and your case/cooling. This is because dual graphics cards will produce more power consumption and heat, and will also require an SLI certified motherboard (which are typically more expensive) as well.

So, you have to factor in those extra costs when determining the price-to-performance of running multiple cards.

So, When Do Multi-GPU Configurations Make Sense, Then?

The main reason why SLI and CrossFire exist it to help users get more performance in scenarios where even the most powerful single GPU setup won’t cut it.

So, nowadays, that means scenarios like trying to run games at max settings on a 1440P 144Hz (or higher) monitor with 144FPS. Or, trying to run games on a triple 4K monitor setup. Or, really any other extreme scenarios along those lines.

While graphics cards like the GTX 1080 Ti and GTX 1080 do perform well in 4K gaming and can handle most games on higher settings on a 1440P 144Hz monitor, the reality is that they still aren’t quite enough in some of those extreme use cases.

2-Way SLI scaling on the GTX 1080 shows significant performance increases on a 4K monitor.

And, that, really, is where multi-GPU configurations come into play. No, they won’t give double (at least, across the board), or triple, or quadruple the performance boost over running the same card on its own. However, if you’re looking to build a gaming computer so that you can play games on as high of settings possible, with as high of a framerate as possible (especially on a 4K or 1440P 144Hz monitor), then you’re probably working with a very high budget anyways. And, in that case, you can probably also afford to drop the extra money on a second (or third, or fourth) graphics card in order to squeeze out as much performance for those scenarios as possible.

The other instance where it makes sense to utilize a multi-GPU setup is when you have an older generation graphics card and it would offer you better price-to-performance to add a second card, rather than upgrading the old card to a higher-end single GPU.

For instance, if you have a GTX 970 and you’re looking to get more in-game performance out of your system, you might be better off picking up a second GTX 970 for about $175 (used) on eBay and that should give you a decent performance boost in the games that utilize SLI properly. On the flip side of that, you’d have to pay at least $400 currently in order to replace the GTX 970 with only a GTX 1070—which isn’t that significant of an upgrade when you consider that the GTX 970 is still a fairly new GPU.

Ultimately, if you are looking to build an extreme gaming computer so that you can push games at max settings with as high of a framerate as possible on higher resolution monitors with faster refresh rates, then going with multi-GPUs is an option you’ll want to consider.

Are SLI or CrossFire Right for You?

In this post, we’ve outlined what SLI and CrossFire are, as well as broken down how they work, what scenarios they make the most sense in, and what the potential pitfalls are in running them.

For most users, SLI and CrossFire don’t make a ton of sense. If you’re gaming on a 1080P or standard 1440P monitor, running multiple graphics cards probably isn’t worth it. If, however, you’re trying to max games out on a 4K monitor or a 1440P 144Hz monitor, adding a second GPU might help you handle those more extreme scenarios.

What Is CrossFire? (AMD’s Technology Explained)

NeoGamr.net is supported by its audience. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Multi-GPU setups have always been the dream of PC enthusiasts, which allows them to experience next-generation performance before the next generation rolls around while at the same time making their PC look like a powerhouse churning out “mad” frame rates.

Pooling graphics card resources and getting visuals in 4K or even 8K has made enthusiasts stuff their PCs with more and more graphics cards.

But just stuffing your PC with more cards will not do the job, and you need some technology for all the GPUs to talk to each other, and that’s where SLI and Crossfire come in.

Everyone and their mother knows about the multi-GPU configuration from Nvidia called Scalable Link Interface or SLI.

Advertisements

However, Team Red’s flavor of the same technology is called Crossfire. So, in this article, we will be talking about What Crossfire is and how it is different from Nvidia’s SLI.

What Is AMD CrossFire?

AMD’s Crossfire is the technology that allows two AMDs GPUs to be used in tandem, thereby pooling their resources and increasing the gaming performance of the PC. However, there are certain limitations, and you cannot just pool any graphics card willy-nilly.

Image Credits: PCGearHead

For CrossFire to work, you need two AMD graphics cards from the same architectural generation. However, you are free to mix and match when it comes to clock speeds and memory size. So, in theory, you can Crossfire an RX 550 with an RX 580 and get some performance increase.

How Does AMD CrossFire Work?

Suppose you have two Nvidia GPUs like the GTX 1070 and the GTX 1080. You cannot SLI them as they are not compatible with each other.

While Nvidia only allows you the freedom to pick between different card vendors and clock speeds but restricts you to the same graphics card.

Meanwhile, AMD’s multi GPU solution is a lot more “loosey-goosey” and, in my opinion, more consumer-friendly. As long as you have two AMD graphics cards that belong to the same architecture family, you can go crazy.

Pair the lowest-end AMD GPU with the flagship one, and they are going to work as expected. Unlike SLI, you also do not need a connector to pair them together as crossfire cards can communicate using the PCI slots.

What Crossfire does is that it pools the resources of the two AMD GPUs and combines the processing power of the GPUs in a Master-Slave configuration. This means that one card will act as the Master card while all the following cards will serve as the slave cards.

Advertisements

The Master cards will receive the processing output from the slave cards and create the resulting image. There are two modes of graphics cards in Crossfire that work with each other.

Split Frame Rendering

In Split Frame rendering, every card is assigned the work on different parts of the frame to be rendered and sent to the master card to be compiled.

The master card, after compiling the resulting frames, display the images on the screen. Crossfire’s one-way graphics card pools its resources and gives you more performance.

Alternate Frame Rendering

Another graphics rendering technique done by cards in Crossfire is alternate frame rendering. As the name suggests, this type of rendering renders every alternative successive frame.

The Slave-Master configuration remains the same; however, each card renders separate frames and combines them to form the image you see on the screen.

Advertisements

The Results And Gains

The results and gains of a multi GPU setup using Crossfire can be somewhat complicated as not all games run at double the performance, nor do you get double the frame rates.

There is a lot of testing and coding required for a game to scale properly on setups like these, and developers know that a tiny subset of the population is rocking multi GPU configurations; therefore, they do not even bother with doing the necessary work.

In some cases, games even perform worse in Crossfire which is why one needs to keep their expectations realistic, and due diligence is required before shelling out the money for multiple GPU setups.

Image Credits: Hardware Unboxed

I have taken the liberty of including some benchmarks from “Hardware unboxed” in some popular titles with the RX 480 in single card and crossfire configurations. All games were played at 1440p in Ultra quality settings.

List of CrossFire Compatible Cards

Here is the list of CrossFire compatible cards from AMD. Keep in mind that you should run only those cards in Crossfire that belong to the same architectural family.

Advertisements

Radeon RX Vega 64
Radeon RX Vega 56
Radeon RX 590
Radeon RX 580
Radeon RX 570
Radeon RX 560
Radeon RX 480
Radeon RX 470
Radeon RX 460
Radeon R9 380X
Radeon R9 295X2
Radeon R9 290
Radeon R9 280X
Radeon R9 280
Radeon R9 270X
Radeon R9 270
Radeon R7 265
Radeon R7 260X
Radeon R7 260
Radeon R7 250X
Radeon R7 250
Radeon R7 240
Radeon HD 7970
Radeon HD 7950
Radeon HD 7870
Radeon HD 7850
Radeon HD 7770
Radeon HD 7750
Radeon HD 6990
Radeon HD 6970
Radeon HD 6950
Radeon HD 6870
Radeon HD 6850
Radeon HD 6790
Radeon HD 6770
Radeon HD 6750
Radeon HD 5970
Radeon HD 5870
Radeon HD 5850
Radeon HD 5830
Radeon HD 5770
Radeon HD 5750
Radeon HD 4870 X2
Radeon HD 4850 X2
Radeon HD 4890
Radeon HD 4870
Radeon HD 4850
Radeon HD 4830
Radeon HD 4770
Radeon HD 4670
Radeon HD 4650
Radeon HD 4550
Radeon HD 4350
Radeon HD 3870 X2
Radeon HD 3870
Radeon HD 3850 X2
Radeon HD 3850
Radeon HD 3650
Radeon HD 3470
Radeon HD 3450

What Is Hybrid CrossFireX Technology?

AMD’s Hybrid CrossFireX Technology allows the discrete AMD GPU and AMD APU to form a crossfire and pool their resources, thereby increasing the graphical performance of the machine. This feature can be handy to the people who primarily used APUs before getting themselves a discrete GPU.

This technology effectively lets you Crossfire without needing double GPU configuration if you own an APU. In the good old days, I used to rock an A8 APU and did most of my gaming on there.

I then saved up enough to get myself an HD 6570. I wish I knew I could Crossfire them before as I was not very computer literate back then; however, I do remember getting more performance than the benchmarks suggested, so maybe it happened automatically.

Advertisements

Anyways, I digress. I did manage to get some numbers for you, which are straight from some online sources. So, an AMD A8 APU was paired with an HD 6670, and as a result, the performance was doubled by precisely 123%.

I take these numbers with a grain of salt; however, even if you got a fraction of this performance, then kudos to AMD for the Hybrid CrossFire technology.

CrossFire Vs SLI: Similarities And Differences

Let us first discuss the Similarities between CrossFire and SLI. First and foremost, both of these technologies allow you to have multiple GPU setups. You can have two, three, and even four graphics cards on your PC.

The Second similarity between them is that both work in the same Master-Slave configuration. One GPU acts as the Master while the remaining act as the slave, and there is only one-way communication between the Master and slave.

The last similarity between the two is the rendering modes discussed earlier, called Split frame rendering and Alternate frame rendering.

SLI vs Crossfire

Now onto the differences between CrossFire and SLI. The first and the most significant difference between the two is that Crossfire allows you to mix and match GPUs from the same architecture type while SLI only allows for Multi GPU configuration of the same graphics card. So, an AMD RX 570 can be Crossfire with an AMD RX 580, while you will need two GTX 1070s for an SLI configuration.

Advertisements

The second difference is the connector. SLI requires a connector called “SLI bridge” for the GPU to communicate between them, while CrossFire uses the PCI express for inter GPU communication. So, getting yourself another AMD card is enough, and you will not need anything else to use Crossfire.

Next, SLI requires particular motherboards with SLI certification to work, while CrossFire is available on most motherboards. Even business class motherboards are seen carrying around a crossfire certification.

CrossFire also allows for APU compatibility using Hybrid CrossFireX technology, while SLI does not support APU, effectively letting its resources go to waste.

The final difference lies in that SLI supports games to be played in windowed and full-screen mode, while CrossFire only does Full-screen mode.

Some Major Problems With Multi-GPU use?

Multi-GPU setups can make sense for some people who want to experience next-generation performance right now; however, there are a lot of problems associated with it which has forced many enthusiasts to go back to single cards configuration.

First and foremost, the biggest problem is that not every game supports a multi-GPU configuration. There is a lot of testing and coding required from the developer to make their game multi-GPU compatible.

However, many developers do not bother with it as only a small subset of people use such configurations. This is why many games do not scale well to multi-card setups and, in some cases, even perform worst.

Another problem with multi-GPU setups is the law of diminishing returns which sets as you add more and more GPUs to your system.

Advertisements

Adding more GPUs to your system will not multiply the graphics performance of your PC, which is why according to many enthusiasts, multi-GPU setups are dubbed as a waste of money. NVLink tries to solve this problem; however, that is a topic for some other day.

What’s Next For AMD CrossFire?

The future of CrossFire is currently uncertain as AMD has confirmed that Crossfire is no longer a focus for the way back in 2019. So does this mean that Multi-GPU setups and configurations are dead?

Well, not necessarily because Nvidia has released the NVLINK, which tries to solve most of the problems of SLI. One of the biggest problems they solved was increasing the bandwidth cap from 2 GB to 150 GB and allowing for two-way communication in cards, negating the concept of master-slave card configuration.

If Nvidia’s NVlink is popular with the consumer and renews interest in multi-GPU setups, then AMD will work on their flavor of NVlink, which does almost the same thing along with some of the advantages already present in Crossfire. If AMD succeeds in doing this, we might see a resurgence of multi-GPU setups in the enthusiast space.

Advertisements

More reading:

How to undervolt GPU in 2023?
How to clean GPU efficiently and safely
GPU sag explained
Is ray tracing worth it in 2023?
How to choose a graphics card

Final Verdict:

This wraps up everything I wanted to say about Team Reds’ flavor of multi-GPU solutions. CrossFire is undoubtedly a more consumer-friendly solution, not only for the enthusiasts but also for 16-year-old me who was running his games with an APU and an AMD GPU without even knowing sometimes.

Even though CrossFire can be great sometimes, it has many problems common to multi-GPU configurations, so right now, I would say that it is better to avoid such configurations and stick to a more powerful single GPU.

However, you never know; we might see a resurgence of Crossfire, and AMD might even be working on an upgraded version of this technology, so all we need to do is sit and wait and hope for the best.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1 – Is dual GPU dead?

This depends on who you ask. There has been a decline in dual GPU setups; however, Nvidia’s NVlink might revive them if they become more popular in the enthusiast space. In my opinion, it is safe to say that dual GPUs are in a coma.

#2 – Does CrossFire double VRAM?

No! CrossFire does not double your VRam. Only the VRam from the Master GPU is accessed during the workload, so if you have two GPUs with 8Gb Vram each, only 8 Gb is available to you during gaming.

#3 – What is Hybrid CrossFire?

Hybrid CrossFire allows your AMD GPU and AMD APU to work in tandem or Crossfire. This allows the two to pool their graphical resources and gives you more performance.

#4 – Can You run 2 GPUs without SLI?

You cannot run two identical Nvidia GPUs without an SLI bridge. However, if you own two AMD GPUs from the same architectural family, you can run them in Crossfire as they communicate through the PCI express.

#5 – What is CrossFire ready?

CrossFire ready is usually written on motherboards and AMD GPUs as a certification to show that they are compatible and ready to be used in crossfire mode.

#6 – How do I turn off CrossFire?

Head to “AMD Radeon settings” by right-clicking on your desktop. Go to the “display settings.” In the left menu, click on “AMD Crossfire” and click on “disable AMD Crossfire,” and you are done.

#7 – Can I CrossFire AMD with Nvidia?

No, You cannot CrossFire AMD with Nvidia. You can only CrossFire AMD cards with other AMD Cards.

#8 – What is the benefit of CrossFire?

By using CrossFire, you can pool the graphical horsepower of multiple AMD GPUs in your computer, which will allow you to play your games on higher resolutions and frame rates.

Advertisements

Refuse blockers | Magazine «Journalist»

Cecilia Kemble Editor, WAN-IFRA Consulting Services

The publishing industry seems to be facing a crisis that it has, in part, created. In some markets, more than a quarter of Internet users are so dissatisfied with online ads that they have installed blockers. How did this happen and what should we do now?

In thinking about this, it’s important to remember that leading publishers own brands that are trusted and able to maintain a high degree of trust through communication with readers, clarity of the offer, and control of ad delivery.

FIGHTING INFRINGEMENT

Publishers can no longer afford to ignore readers’ attitudes towards the advertising they deliver (and the surveillance that comes with it) because the inevitable consequences of such ignorance are reflected in their profits.

When brands and advertisers lose access to potential consumers—in some markets, a young, male, tech-savvy audience really turns into something of a blind spot—it hurts publishers. Even well-run publishers that actively protect their user data are forced to take action as they are caught in the crossfire by those readers who react to the practices of less scrupulous sites.

Not surprisingly, the instinctive response of many in the publishing industry has been to attack those who

The publishing industry seems to be facing a crisis that, in part, it has created. In some markets, more than a quarter of Internet users are so dissatisfied with online ads that they have installed blockers. How did this happen and what should we do now?

FIGHTING INFRINGEMENT

Not surprisingly, the instinctive response of many in the publishing industry has been to attack those who made the current crisis possible, the blocker companies. Several lawsuits have been filed in Germany, most notably against Eyeo, the company behind the most popular ad blocker, Adblock Plus. In this case — as in subsequent cases — the courts found that consumers have every right to install and use ad blockers.

Regardless of how publishers feel about blocker companies—or the users who download these extensions—markets tend to regulate themselves. Remember promotional emails at 1990s? Advertisers have suddenly discovered the existence of an extremely personal, not to mention cheap, way to reach huge groups of consumers: send it to the «soap»!

Then came companies like Spamhaus, which created lists of unwanted senders based in part on what recipients labeled as spam. The business model of Spamhaus and their ilk was to sell these lists to email providers, who then blocked the violators. Naturally, email marketing is back on track, and many publishers are building great relationships with readers by sending them daily roundups of news of interest to them.

In the current (similar) situation with ad blockers, the perpetrators are all participants in the distribution of advertising, including publishers. Brands, agencies, ad tech, publishers have all contributed to this situation that users are no longer willing to tolerate. Ridiculously, some in the publishing industry admit to using ad blockers themselves. What does it say?

CONTROL AND ORDER

First of all, this suggests that it is time for publishers to start to control the process and put things in order. The task is not easy, because it also requires you to abandon short-term financial gain and focus on the one thing that really matters: keeping readers.

In our study (published in April’s WAN-IFRA report «Ad Blocking: Implications and Strategies for Publishers» — JOURNALIST) there is no indication that consumers (generally) object to online advertising per se. They are against the way she interferes with the reading process and interrupts it. From a publisher’s point of view, the easiest aspect to fix is to clean up the formats of the ads that are shown to the reader. And then it may be possible to sell what remains at a higher price, both on PC and mobile.

At the Swedish publishing house Schibsted, mobile advertising is serious business. Their flagship newspaper, Aftonbladet, earns more revenue from mobile advertising than print.

In 2015, Schibsted conducted a survey of approximately 37,000 mobile users. Participants in the study viewed 30 ad campaigns from ten global brands in three formats: static image, multimedia and video. The study found that, compared to video and multimedia, a single static image is more likely to entice mobile users to buy the advertised product.

Schibsted’s results should come as no surprise. They are consistent with what Internet users have long been saying: ads that move and overlap content are bad, and partly because of it, the huge proliferation of blockers has become a problem.

But most importantly, armed with such knowledge, the publisher gets the opportunity to convince advertisers and agencies to choose a creative that their target audience does not protest against and that actually encourages them to make purchases. Moreover, publishers who can prove the effectiveness of advertising must be able to charge additional fees. This brings us to the basic concepts of economics: supply and demand. If a leading publisher restricts advertising space, demand should rise, followed by an increase in the cost of displaying ads. From an advertiser’s point of view, their ads appear in less cluttered environments and are more likely to be seen and paid attention by readers. And most importantly, users will be happy with the ad experience and less likely to google the ad blocker. In the long run, the publisher will build a strong relationship with the user, who will retain credibility in the publisher’s integrity.

RESPECT YOUR AUDIENCE

The second and probably more difficult aspect of managing the situation is to protect your users’ data and deter third-party players in the advertising technology field. At first glance, it seems that the obvious way out is to display advertising using the technical means of the publishing house itself. However, with very few exceptions, publishers are unable to do so. It’s worth looking at how publishers sell programmatic.

There is, of course, nothing to prevent a publisher from adding value to such advertising through first-hand information about customer behavior and preferences. The main thing is to always take care of the safety of your audience first and foremost and respect it.

The time may have come when publishers should allow consumers more control over their own ad viewing experience.

It’s time for publishers to let consumers control their own ad experience

The first step is to give them a direct and easy way to get feedback, not through customer service, but directly on every page, on every ad that annoys them. Another possibility is to give users the right to create their own profiles, in which they can set preferences for which categories of advertising information they are interested in — with a high degree of detail and in terms of topics and viewing time.

With all the talk about data, don’t forget that your customers are real people. But first and foremost, they need to know that you are protecting their interests and that you are carefully monitoring and controlling your site’s content, as well as monitoring and controlling who has access to the underlying content data. The only way to convince people to give up blockers is trust.

Report a bug

Subscribe to the magazine

Subscribe to newsletter

Nov 2, 2016

Nowhere else to optimize? — MB, No. 183 — Furniture Business magazine

According to the results of the third quarter, Rosstat reported an increase in real disposable income of the Russian population by 3%. The news spread «widely», coming under the crossfire of criticism from prominent economists and the business media.

The statistical surge in real consumer incomes of Russians occurred, as if by magic, after President Putin complained about the situation with their dynamics in August. Rosstat explained the explosive growth by the low comparative base of the 3rd quarter of 2018 and the increase in income from labor activity in the period under review.

Even if there was some growth, third-party experts commented, the announced figure is doubtful. She was surprised even at the Ministry of Economic Development, which just a month before lowered the annual forecast for the dynamics of real disposable income of the population from 1% to 0.1%. Already after the release of the quarterly report of Rosstat, the ministry confirmed that they were not going to revise the forecast again.

Earlier this year, critical comments about the federal statistical agency were made by the head of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Alexei Kudrin : in June, he suggested that Rosstat should be removed from the subordination of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, since the statistical service should be independent of departments involved in economic planning. politicians.

In early October, this position was supported by the Romir research holding: its president Andrey Milekhin stated that Rosstat needs an external audit to verify the adequacy of its methods, and the statistical agency itself should not be located within the public administration system.

“Rosstat, at least, cannot be located inside the ministry, the effectiveness of which it evaluates. Because of this, there is probably no trust from both business and society to Rosstat. Responsibility for the figure should be increased, the adequacy of their methods should be checked. Probably, there should be some external contacts, an external audit. At the same time, Rosstat should be more independent in order to give an objective picture,” Mr. Milekhin said in an interview with TASS.

However, the latest Romir reports also record year-on-year growth — though not in terms of consumer income, but in the daily expenses of Russians, the dynamics of which is monitored by Romir using its own methods. The Romir Scan Panel study is based on data on the consumption of 40,000 residents of the Russian Federation out of 15,000 households in 220 cities with a population of more than 10,000 people: panel members scan the barcodes of all purchased goods, the data is entered into the database and automatically calculated.

Thus, Romir reports an increase in the nominal spending of compatriots on consumer goods in September by 8.5% compared to the same period last year. In turn, real, “cleared” from inflation, expenses grew by 4.1% year-on-year. Thus, for the fourth month in a row, real daily expenses remain at the highest positions for the analyzed month, the research holding emphasizes.

“The process of “belt-tightening” by Russian consumers has continued almost without interruption since the second half of 2013,” Romir commented on the latest data on its Facebook page Igor Berezin President of the Guild of Marketers of Russia. — The crisis of 2014 was followed by three years of decline in production, income and spending of the population, then another three years (including 2019) of stagnation, recession — in general, stagnation. But it is impossible to «tighten the belts» all the time. Today, people are spending more on food and commodities, not because they “stop being afraid,” but because they have exhausted the possibilities for further optimization. They already buy more than half of everyday goods only for promotions, for «yellow price tags», for coupons and the like. At the same time, it seems that real incomes nationwide have stopped declining and will still show growth of 1-2% this year. This increase in income (both nominal and real) was just distributed to the market of consumer goods. MB

November 11, 2019 (#183)

Rosstat