May 25, Pozirk. Consumer demand was the main driver of growth for gross domestic product (GDP) in January-April, the Eurasian Development Bank said in its recent report.
Growth picked up in April following a 0.4-percent decline in the first quarter of the year. In the first four months, retail trade grew by 6.2 percent with the situation in the investment sector gradually improving as well, the analysts noted.
The decline in construction activity eased from 4.2 percent to 2.8 percent, although industry continued to weigh on the economy, with output falling by 2.5 percent, the report said.
Rising consumer activity, investment and construction recovery are creating favorable conditions for faster GDP growth in the second quarter, the EDB noted.
Belarus’ GDP grew by 0.2 percent in the first four months of 2026.
Last year, the economy grew by 1.3 percent, falling short of the government’s targeted 4.1-percent expansion. This year, officials expect the economy to grow by 2.8 percent.
