Russians are facing a more expensive food basket this New Year amid a moderate inflation and stagnating economy as revealed in the latest report by the Federal Statistics Agency.

      According to Alexander Surinov, head of Rosstat, Russians would have to splash out 4,019 roubles to put together a decent menu for the New Year feast, up 7.7 percent compared with last year.

      The basket features ingredients for the popular Olivier salad, sweets, fruits and vegetables, one cake, a bottle of cognac, wine and mineral water.

      Moscow residents will have to cough up almost a thousand roubles more, 4,959 roubles.

      The Olivier salad alone is expected to cost 255 roubles at the end of the outgoing year, up 18 roubles against the 2012 figure.

      Among the most popular gifts in Russia are toys and kids games, cosmetics, creams, shampoos, table cloths, napkins and perfume.

      The overall costs for the New Year celebrations are expected to total between 16,000-19,000 roubles, with gifts accounting for half of the costs.

      The drive for a symbol comes at a time of disturbingly poor performance by the national economy.

      2013 has been a glum year in terms of economic growth, with the forecasts standing at 1.4-1.5 percent against 3.4 percent in 2012 and 4.3 a year earlier. In June 2013, Alexey Ulyukayev replaced Andrey Belousov as Economic Development Minister, but has so far failed to kick-start the economy.

      According to the IMF, Russia’s prospects “have been dampened by a weak external environment, some acceleration of capital outflows and declining equity prices and subdued investment”.

      Industrial output has been flat, and the privatization campaign announced earlier by the Medvedev cabinet has stalled amid a bleak economic outlook and reluctance of state corporations’ management to share their revenues and power with foreign players.