Ukraine retail trade increases 5.4% in 8M18

Ukraine’s 8M18 retail sales increased 5.4% yoy in real
terms, slowing from 6.0% growth in 7M18, Ukraine’s State Statistics Service
reported on Sept. 20. In August, real retail sales picked up 5.7% m/m and 7.5%
yoy (vs. a 3.7% m/m and 6.6% yoy rise in July).

Regionally, the highest 8M18 retail growth occurred in
Ukraine-controlled Luhansk and Donetsk (27.9% yoy and 13.3% yoy respectively)
and Poltava (10.8%) regions. It was slowest in the Chernivtsi (0.8%), Kharkiv
(0.9%) and Khmelnytskiy (1.0%) regions.

Evgeniya Akhtyrko: We anticipate retail trade to accelerate through the year end,
supporting economic growth. We expect real retail sales to grow 7-8% yoy in
2018.