Ukraine retail trade increases 5.5% in 9M18

Ukraine’s 9M18 retail sales increased 5.5% yoy in real
terms, slightly speeding up from 5.0% growth in 8M18, Ukraine’s State
Statistics Service reported on Sept. 22. In September, real retail sales picked
up 6.7% yoy, but dropped 5.0% m/m (vs. a 7.5% yoy and 5.7% m/m rise in August).

Regionally, the highest 9M18 retail growth occurred in
Ukraine-controlled Luhansk and Donetsk (27.9% yoy and 13.7% yoy respectively)
and Poltava 11.1% regions. It was slowest in the Kharkiv (1.0%), Chernivtsi
(1.2%), and Khmelnytskiy (1.3%) 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.