Ukraine retail trade increases 5.4% in 10M18

Ukraine’s 10M18 retail sales increased 5.4% yoy in
real terms, slightly slowing from 5.5% growth in 9M18, Ukraine’s State
Statistics Service reported on Nov. 20. In October, real retail sales picked up
5.0% yoy and 2.0% m/m in real terms.

Regionally, the highest 10M18 retail growth occurred
in Ukraine-controlled Luhansk and Donetsk (27.0% yoy and 12.9% yoy
respectively) and Zakarpattia (11.4%) regions. It was slowest in the Kharkiv
and Khmelnytskiy (1.0%), as well as Chernivtsi and Odesa (1.5%) regions.

Evgeniya Akhtyrko: During
August-October, retail growth remained in the 5.4%-5.5% yoy range. Amid very
weak industrial growth and uneven agricultural performance, this relatively
fast growth helps to maintain overall economic growth at decent levels. We
expect real retail sales will grow 6-7% yoy in 2018.