Biełstat reports economic growth slowdown
September 17, Pozirk. Belarus’ economic growth slowed down to 4.9 percent in January-August from 5.5 percent in the first seven months, the National Statistics Committee (Biełstat) said.
Biełstat reported an increase of 7.1 percent in industrial and agricultural output, 12 percent in retail sales and 2.8 percent in transportation. Belarusians’ real disposable incomes rose by 9.9 percent in January-July, while stockpiles of unsold industrial goods decreased by 2.2 percent, according to the official data.
The International Monetary Fund expected Belarus’ economy to grow by 2.4 percent this year, and the World Bank projected a 1.2-percent increase.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the BEROC think tank predicted growth of 2.8 and 4 percent, respectively.
In 2023, Belarus’ economy grew by 3.9 percent after 4.7-percent contraction in 2022.
Average loan interest rates keep rising since January
September 16, Pozirk. Average annual interest rates on all bank loans (except for interbank loans) rose by 0.48 percent to 10.1 percent in the first eight months of 2024, says Pozirk‘s analysis of central bank’s data. Since January, loan interest …