Russian inflation: Now prostitutes raise rates

Military vehicles drive past St. Basil’s Cathedral during a rehearsal for the anniversary of a historical World War II parade in Moscow’s Red Square, Nov. 1, 2014.

Alexander Shcherbak | Kommersant Photo | Getty Images

Spiralling Russian inflation and the declining value of the ruble against the dollar have already hit the country's economy – and now prostitutes in one town look as though they are hiking their rates in response.

The price per hour of brothel services has been raised by up to 40 percent in the Arctic port of Murmansk, according to a report by the FlashNord news agency.

One brothel owner quoted in the article said "the girls can't work at a loss".

There are a lot of external pressures on both prostitutes and their clients. The ruble has nearly halved in value against the dollar this year, the price of oil, Russia's most valuable export, has plummeted to 5 year lows, Russia's economic growth has stalled, and Western governments have imposed sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals over the conflict in Ukraine.

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