Ukraine’s 1H18 retail sales increased 6.2% yoy in real
terms, keeping almost the same growth rate as in 5M18 (6.1% yoy growth)
Ukraine’s State Statistics Service reported on July 20. In June, real retail
sales dropped 0.8% m/m, while showing an increase of 6.3% yoy.
Regionally, the highest 1H18 retail growth occurred in
Ukraine-controlled Luhansk and Donetsk (24.0% yoy and 10.3% yoy growth,
respectively), and Poltava (10.4%) regions, while growth was slowest in
Chernivtsi (0.7%), Kharkiv (2.1%) and Kirovohrad (2.7%).
Evgeniya Akhtyrko: We
anticipate retail sales to pick up during 2H18 amid continuing economic growth
and cooling inflation. We expect real retail sales to grow 7-8% yoy in 2018.