Page 31 - UKRRptJun21

4.5.3 Retail sector dynamics
Ukrainian retail sales increased 14.0% y/y in 2M21 accelerating from 7.5% y/y growth in the first quarter of 2021, Ukraine’s State Statistics Service reported on May 21. In April, retail sales declined 6.5% m/m, but surged 34.3% y/y on low base effects.
In 4M21, retail growth accelerated across Ukraine. The highest growth occurred in Chernivtsi (26.9% y/y), Ternopil (25.2% y/y) and Zakarpattia (22.1% y/y) regions. The slowest growth rates were in Ukraine-controlled Donetsk (7.8% y/y), Kharkiv (8.4% y/y), and Kirovohrad (9.2% y/y) regions.
April’s surge in retail trade is impressive given that non-food retail was under quarantine restrictions in many regions. The low comparative base of April 2020 (14.9% y/y decline) is only partially responsible for the remarkable result.
Consumer demand is expected to stay strong in 2021, allowing retail sales to accelerate to 10% y/y (vs. 8.4% y/y growth in 2020).
31 UKRAINE Country Report XXXX 2018 www.intellinews.com