MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - Only 2% of Russians say they have not noticed recent increases in food prices, the majority (66%) of respondents in an opinion poll said prices grew in May at a higher rate than in April, Public Opinion Poll Fund said.

A quarter of Russians, or 24% said the price growth rate in May was similar to that of April, and only 2% said the rate of growth was lower than a moth ago.

The Public Opinion Poll Fund conducted the poll in 100 locations in 46 Russian regions in late May.

Some 75% respondents described the price growth as considerable, 17% said it was insignificant.

Inflation in January-April 2008 was 2.8%; and the food prices grew by 8%, the Russian State Statistics Committee said.

Milk and bread prices have grown the most, according to those polled. Many respondents noted considerable growth in milk and bread prices, 62% and 63% respectively, the poll said.

Some 43% of those polled described milk price growth as notable, and 41% have registered a notable meat price growth. Every third respondent has registered a considerable price hike for fresh meat. Russians have also noticed the flour price hike (by 23%), cereals price growth (by 21%), fresh fruit price growth (by 16%) and the 19% growth of prices for vegetables.

Almost two thirds (60%) of the polled said the price growth deteriorated their financial position. Socially vulnerable sections of the population - women, elderly people, low-educated Russians - report on this especially often.

Some 24% of the polled have said the price growth only insignificantly deteriorated their financial position; 10% have said inflation has not affected their well-being (22% among Moscow residents, 20% among highly educated people, 18% among people with incomes exceeding 6,000 rubles).

Meanwhile 62% of Russians do not intend to take part in protest actions against the price growth; 29% (37% among the people with low incomes) do not rule out such an option, the poll said.