Dmitry Peskov was commenting on a report by state statistics agency Rosstat., according to BBC.
It found that a third of households polled could not afford two pairs of shoes per person, per year.
The data also revealed that 80% of Russian families found it difficult to make ends meet.
The survey actually indicates a slight improvement in some areas of family finances. But its stark headline figures - and Mr Peskov's annoyance - have captured attention, suggesting that officials are out of touch with everyday reality.
Asked to comment on the findings, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman sighed deeply before saying that the Kremlin "struggled" to understand the data.
"Why shoes? Why one third? Where are these figures from?" Mr Peskov asked, adding that he would be "grateful" for an explanation from Rosstat.