Belarus’ real sector maintains high expectations about consumer price growth in next 3 months – opinion survey

<p> MINSK, May 6 - PrimePress. The real sector of the Belarusian economy continues expecting consumer price growth in the next three months, reads the April business climate review posted on the website of the National Bank of Belarus (NBB). </p> <p>   </p> <p> According to the opinion survey, 40.8% of respondents expect accelerated price growth in the near future (there were 48.3% in March and 25% in February”. Three quarters of respondents expect prices to increase in the next three months. According to the survey, only 10.6% did not expect prices to go up in April against 6.9% in March and 11% in February. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Among the participants in the April survey, the index of those who expect growth in selling prices for manufactured products slightly decreased relative to the data of the previous survey: 16.2% against 24% in March and 20.9% in February 2020. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In general, price growth is expected in all sectors presented in the survey, but the highest growth is forecasted in trade, car repair, the segment of household goods and personal items, the smallest - in construction. </p> <p>   </p> <p> Output (works performed, sales, transportation services) was expected to drop to minus 2.3% against plus 12.1% in March and plus 22.6% in February. Those engaged in trade and repair of cars, household appliances and personal demand items are pessimistic the most (minus 17%), whereas construction and transport workers believe that the situation will improve. </p> <p>   </p> <p> In general, the economic situation was assessed in April 2020 as “unfavorable” (since February 2020). </p> <p>   </p> <p> The majority of respondents share the opinion on demand indicators in the coming: expected demand – minus 5.7%; actual demand – minus 23.4%; expected output – minus 2.3%; actual output – minus 15%. End </p>

2020-05-06

Primepress