Economy and politics

In Ukraine, official statistics reported a YoY decrease in consumer spending and industrial production volumes in January-March 2009. Retail trade lost 11.5% YoY in 3M09 and totalled UAH 96 bln.

Shareholders of the Kharkiv-based OJSC Turboatom [TATM UZ, HOLD] – the largest turbine manufacturer in Ukraine and one of the largest energy equipment producers in the world – have decided to pay out UAH 50.884 mln (USD 6.6 mln) in dividends for 2008.

In January-February 2009, Ukraine’s exports totalled USD 5.1 bln and imports equalled USD 5.8 bln. Both indicators saw serious year-on-year contractions with the exports volume falling by 38.6% YoY and imports by 48.5% YoY.

According to a note from the National Bank of Ukraine, the monetary base grew 0.8% MoM in March (a 6.4% decline YTD) and has, therefore, reached UAH 174.8 bln (USD 22.7 bln). At the same time, the money mass shrank 1.5% MoM (10.1% decline YTD), reaching UAH 463.7 bln (USD 6.0 bln).

According to a note from the Ministry of Finance, Ukraine’s direct external debt fell 0.8% MoM in February to USD 10.916 bln. At the same time, domestic direct debt grew 1.7% to UAH 45.620 bln (USD 5.925 bln).

According to a note from the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, CPI growth in March reached 5.9% YTD. The MoM figure was somewhat lowered to 1.4% in March, compared to 1.5% in February and 2.9% in January. The YoY inflation, therefore, reached 18.1% in March.

According to a note from the National Bank of Ukraine, foreign reserves dropped 4.2% (USD 1.066 bln) MoM in March, thus reaching USD 24.392 bln. The YTD decrease, therefore, has reached 22.4% (USD 7.070 bln). The balance of Interbank interventions in March reached USD 1.077 bln.

According to a note from Ukraine’s State Treasury, the budget profits in 1Q09 were UAH 43.8 bln (USD 5.7 bln), or 101.3% of the planned figure. At the same time, budget profits in March were UAH 17.4 bln (USD 2.3 bln) or 102.2% of the planned profits.

According from data from the State Statistics Committee, as of March 1, wage arrears had reached UAH 1.64 bln (USD 213 mln), a UAH 0.11 bln (USD 14.2 mln) increase, compared to February 2009.

The State Statistics Committee has released disappointing data on salaries in Ukraine in February 2009.