Businesses have learned to live without electricity: The enterprise business activity assessment has improved.

In August, the index of business activity expectations calculated by the National Bank was 48.4 compared to 44.4 in July. Gradual adaptation to permanent power outages and establishment of alternative power sources, budgetary funding for infrastructure restoration and road construction, stable domestic demand and sufficient supply of goods, stable operation of the sea corridor, and the seasonal factor all positively impacted business expectations in all sectors.

However, the deterioration of the security situation, the increase in shelling of energy facilities and their long-term recovery needs, the decline of exchange rate expectations, the rise in business costs for labor and energy, and the shortage of personnel remained deterrent factors. Construction companies provided positive assessments of their economic performance, with the sectoral index in August at 50.7 compared to 49.6 in July.

In trade, the index rose to 50.4 from 44.7 in July. In industry, the index was 48.6 against 45.8, and in the service sector – 46.5 against 42.5. Enterprises in all sectors forecast a more moderate price increase for their products and services.