Real disposable income of Ukrainians rises 10% in 2018

Real disposable income of Ukraine’s citizens rose 9.9%
yoy in 2018, accelerating from 7.4% yoy growth in 2017, the State Statistics
Service reported on Apr. 4. Average disposable monthly income per individual
increased to UAH 4,826 (USD 177) from UAH 3,814 (USD 143) in 2017. Nominal
gross income of individuals rose 21.4% yoy, driven mostly by accelerating wages
(26.2% yoy) and social income (18.0% yoy).

The nominal income of private entrepreneurs and
self-employed individuals improved 18.3% yoy, while property income rose 3.0%
yoy. Spending on goods and services surged 21.4% yoy.

Evgeniya Akhtyrko: Higher
wages and social payments fueled by accelerated economic growth continued to be
the major contributors to individual income growth throughout 2018.

At the same time, lower inflation contributed to
accelerated disposable income growth in real terms.

We project real disposable income to increase 9.0-9.5%
yoy in 2019.