ResultsРезультати of surveys Busi опитуваньness of VinnitsaOutlook керівників regionSurvey enterprises підприєм m ств anagers м.of КиєваCherni regarding іhiv Київської Oblast their * області щодоbusiness їх ділових expectations очікувань* * Q1 2020 This surveyI wasквартал carried 2018Q2 out 2018 рокуbefore quarantine measures were introduced

*Надані результати*This survey є відображенням only reflects лише the opinions думки респондентівof respondents – inкерівників Chernihiv підприємствoblast (top managersВінницької of companies) who were polled in Q1 2020, and does not represent NBU forecasts or estimates області в IІ кварталі 2018 року і не є прогнозами та оцінками Національного банку України.

Business Outlook Survey of Chernihiv Oblast Q1 2020

A survey of companies carried out in Chernihiv oblast in Q1 2020 showed that respondents expected a drop in the output of Ukrainian goods and services and had moderate expectations for the development of their companies over the next 12 months. Respondents expected that inflation would be moderate. Depreciation expectations were high.1

The top managers of companies said they expected that over the next 12 months:

▪ the output of Ukrainian goods and services would drop: the balance of expectations was (-7.7%) compared with 8.3% in Q4 2019 (Figure 1). Across Ukraine respondents expected an increase in the output, the balance of responses being 10.4%

▪ prices for consumer goods and services would grow moderately: 78.6% of the respondents expected that the inflation rate would not exceed 6.0% compared to 68.5% across Ukraine. Respondents referred to production costs and the hryvnia exchange rate as the main inflation drivers (Figure 2). Respondents reported a noticeable increase in the impact of the budgetary social spending

▪ the hryvnia would depreciate: a total of 71.4% of respondents (compared with 76.9% in the previous quarter and 65.2% across Ukraine) expected the hryvnia to weaken against the US dollar ▪ the financial and economic standings of their companies would remain at their current levels: the balance of expectations was 0.0% (as in the previous quarter) compared with 16.9% across Ukraine (see Table) ▪ total sales of their own products would remain unchanged: the balance of responses was 0.0% compared with 7.7% in the previous quarter. External sales were expected to grow at a fast pace: the balance of expectations was 50.0%. compared with 28.6% in the previous quarter. Overall, respondents expected sales to rise across Ukraine, the balances of responses being 23.0% and 17.5% respectively

▪ investment both in construction and in machinery, equipment and tools would decrease: the balances of responses were (-15.4%) and (-14.3%) respectively (compared with 8.3% and 23.1% in Q4 2019). Overall, across Ukraine, respondents expected investment spending to rise, the balances of responses being 2.4% and 14.1% respectively

▪ staff numbers would decrease at a faster pace: the balance of responses was (-28.6%) compared with (-15.4%) in the previous quarter and (-3.9%) across Ukraine (Figure 4) ▪ purchase prices would increase at a fast pace (the balance of responses was 85.7% compared with 69.2% in Q4 2019), while selling prices would rise at a much slower pace (the balance of responses was 38.5% compared with 50.0% in the previous quarter) (Figure 6). Respondents referred to high raw material and supplies prices and wage costs as the main selling price drivers (Figure 7) ▪ the growth in per-unit production costs and in wage costs per staff member would decelerate: the balances of responses were 50.0% for each indicator compared to 69.2% for each in Q4 2019 (Figures 4 and 6).

Weak demand was named as the main drag on the ability of companies to boost production (57.1% of respondents) (Figure 5). Respondents reported higher expectations of an increase in borrowing needs in the near future (Figure 8). The respondents who planned to take out loans (50% of the total number of respondents) usually opted for domestic currency loans. Respondents said that lending standards had remained unchanged (Figure 9). Respondents referred to high loan rates as the main factor that deterred them from taking out loans (Figure 10).

A total of 92.9% of respondents said that they had encountered no difficulties in effecting transactions with funds deposited in bank accounts (96.6% across Ukraine).

Assessments of financial and economic standings as of the time of the survey (Figure 3)

▪ The current financial and economic standings of companies were assessed as bad: the balance of responses was (-23.1%) compared with (-15.4%) in Q4 2019. Across Ukraine, the current financial and economic standings of companies were assessed as positive: the balance of responses being 9.7%. ▪ Respondents assessed their finished goods stocks at a level higher than the normal one: the balance of responses was 11.1% (unchanged compared to the previous quarter). ▪ Spare production capacity had decreased. Companies were operating on the verge of their production capacity: the balance of responses being 0.0% (compared with 7.7% in Q4 2019).

1 This survey was carried out before quarantine measures were introduced.

2 Business Outlook Survey of Chernihiv Oblast Q1 2020

Survey Details2,3

Respondents in terms of main economic Respondents in terms of enterprise size based Respondents in terms of business activities, % on staff number, % activities,% Neither exporters Exporters only Other nor importers 7.1 Agriculture Large (more Small (up to 50 14.3 50.0 Transport and 35.7 than 250 persons) communications persons) 21.4 7.1 28.6

Wholesale and retail trade Both exporters 7.1 and importers 42.9

Energy and water supply 7.1 Medium (from 51 and up Manufacturing Mining to 250 persons) 21.4 7.1 50.0 ▪ Period: 7 February through 2 March 2020. ▪ A total of 14 companies were polled. ▪ A representative sample was generated on the basis of the agricultural sector. Business outlook index for next 12 months in terms of regions,% Business Outlook Index for Next 12 Months in Terms of Oblasts4, %

Riv ne Oblast Voly n Oblast Chernihiv Oblast 126.1 103.1 Zhy tomyr 88.4 Sumy Oblast Oblast 105.7 126.4 Ky iv and Lv iv Oblast Ky iv Oblast 121.4 Poltav a Oblast Kharkiv Oblast Ternopil Oblast 113.1 107.4 111.3 138.9 Khmelny tskyi Cherkasy Luhansk Oblast Iv ano-Frankivsk Oblast Vinny tsia Oblast Zakarpattia Oblast 77.1 Oblast 104.9 Oblast 117.4 n/a 96.3 Donetsk 95.5 Cherniv tsi Oblast Kirov ohrad Oblast Dnipropetrov sk Oblast Oblast 101.6 84 107.5 n/a Zaporizhia My kolaiv Oblast Odesa 123.3 Oblast Oblast 114.6 113.1 Kherson Oblast 103.3 minimum 77.1 1 quartile 102.0 1 quarter 2 quartile (median) 107.5 Crimea 2 quarter 3 quartile 116.7 n/a 3 quarter maximum 138.9 4 quarter Ukraine 110.5 *a quartile is the v alue of the BOI where an ordered sample is div ided into f our equal-sized subgroups **a median is the v alue of the BOI in the middle of an ordered sampled where the sample is div ided into two equal-sized subgroups

Table. The Business Outlook Index of Companies in Chernihiv Oblast and Its Components

Balances of responses, % Expectations over next 12 months for Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20

Financial and economic standings 60.0 33.3 16.7 0.0 0.0

Total sales 7.1 28.6 28.6 7.7 0.0

Investment in construction 25.0 0.0 14.3 8.3 -15.4

Investment in machinery, equipment and tools 21.4 21.4 28.6 23.1 -14.3

Staff numbers 0.0 21.4 7.1 -15.4 -28.6

2 This sample was generated in proportion to the contribution of each oblast and each economic activity to Ukraine’s gross value added. 3 Data for totals and components may be subject to rounding effects. 4 The business outlook index (BOI) is an aggregate indicator for expected business development over the next 12 months. It is calculated using the balances of respondents' responses regarding changes in the financial and economic standings of their companies and future economic activity.

3 Business Outlook Survey of Chernihiv Oblast Q1 2020

Figure 1 Figure 2

Output expectations for next 12 months, Assessment of consumer price drivers, percentage of responses percentage of responses

100 100 0 20 40 60 80

80 80 Production costs

60 60 Exchange rate 40 40 Budgetary social 20 20 spending

0 0 Household income

-20 -20 Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 Global prices Output will decrease Output will be unchanged Output will increase Supply (availability) of Balance of expectations (right scale) money Q1 20 Q4 19

Tax changes

Figure 3 Figure 4

Economic activity as of the time of the survey, Staff level and wage cost expectations for next 12 balance of responses months, balance of responses 30 100 20 80

10 60

0 40

-10 20

0 -20 -20 -30 Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 -40 Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 Financial and economic standings Staff level expectations Wage costs per staff member Finished goods stocks Unutilized production capacity Figure 5 Figure 6

Assessment of factors that impede output Expectations of producer prices for next 12 months, balance of responses 0 20 40 60 80 100 Weak demand

Tax burden 80 High raw material and supplies prices 60 Lack of working assets

High energy prices 40

Qualified staff shortage 20 Political situation Insufficient production 0 capacity Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 Regulatory burden Purchase prices Selling prices Limited availability of loan Per-unit production costs

Corruption Q1 20 Q4 19 Exchange rate fluctuations

4 Business Outlook Survey of Chernihiv Oblast Q1 2020

Figure 7 Figure 8

Expectations of borrowing needs and intentions to Assessment of selling price drivers, take out corporate loans in the near future, percentage of responses percentage of responses 0 20 40 60 80 60 60 Raw material and supplies prices

Wage costs 45 45

Energy prices 30 30 Demand

Global prices 15 15

Tax burden 0 0 Domestic competition Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 Percentage of respondents who intend to take out loans Exchange rate Q1 20 Q4 19 Borrowing needs (balance of responses, right scale) Loan rates

Figure 9 Figure 10

Expectations of lending conditions for next 12 Assessment of factors that could deter months, balance of responses* companies from taking out loans, percentage of responses 50 0 20 40 60 80 100

40 High loan rates

30 Collateral requirements 20 Uncertainty about ability to meet debt obligations as 10 they fall due

0 Complicated paperwork Q1 19 Q2 19 Q3 19 Q4 19 Q1 20 *The difference between the percentages of responses “tightened” and “eased” Q1 20 Other funding sources Q4 19

Exchange rate fluctuations

5