Businesses are gradually adapting to current conditions and moderating their negative expectations regarding their operations. This is evidenced by the results of the monthly survey on the Business Activity Expectations Index, according to a press release from the National Bank of Ukraine. In February, the index rose to 45.0 from 37.5 in January.
“Economic activity is gradually recovering in all sectors except construction,” the NBU noted.
Industrial enterprises have moderated their pessimistic expectations regarding their own economic prospects due to the gradual restoration of power supply and the procurement of alternative energy sources: the sectoral index rose to 47.2 in February (from 40.6 in January).
Retail companies significantly moderated their negative expectations: the sectoral index rose to 47 (from 33.9 in January).
Service sector companies moderated but still maintained pessimistic assessments of their economic performance, given the decline in household purchasing power, rising tariffs, and logistical challenges: the sectoral index stood at 43.2 (compared to 37.2 in January).
Construction firms offered the most subdued assessments of their performance: the sectoral index stood at 33.5 (compared to 34.5 in January).