Real disposable income down by 3.6 percent in 2022

February 15, BPN. The National Statistics Committee (Belstat) has reported a decrease in people’s real disposable income for the first time since 2016.

Belstat said on its website that it fell by 3.6 percent in 2022. The authorities’ plan was to increase it by 2 percent.

The drop occurred amid a 4.7 percent fall in GDP, primarily caused by western sanctions against the Belarusian authorities who supported Russian invasion of Ukraine, and by the lack of access to the Ukrainian market.

After falling by 5.9 percent in 2015 and by 6.9 percent in 2016, real disposable income had been steadily rising, according to official statistics.