Comments of Director of NBK Monetary Policy Department Zhandos Shaymardanov About Business Activity Index for May 2021

Obtained estimates demonstrate that business activity index in May inched up by 0.6 and made 51.1 (50.5 in April).

This increased followed improvement of the parameter in the service sector up to 52.3 (50.7 in April). Along with that, parameters in industry and construction went down to 49.6 and 47.5 respectively (50.4 and 48.0 in April).

In the breakdown by regions, May revealed improved business activities in 9 regions, and demonstrated deterioration in 8 regions.  The highest business index was reported in Akmola Region (57.6) and Karaganda Region (56.6), the lowest was in Eastern Kazakhstan Region (43.9).

In May 2021, respondents point out improvement in conditions of business conduct in the country. Balance of responses related to evaluation of current business conditions made 4.3 (3.7 in April). Enterprises positively evaluated demand for products/ services, access to communications and finances/ loans, meanwhile, tax burden and questions of business protection received negative estimates.

Optimism of companies about future business conditions for the next 6 months declined: their evaluation made 17.2 (20.1 in April). As a result, index of business climate in economy slightly dropped and stood at 10.7 (11.8 in April).

In May 2021, the poll covered 459 enterprises, including 67 in construction sector, 173 in industry, and 219 in service sector.

For more details please visit: https://nationalbank.kz/en/page/indeks-delovoy-aktivnosti-po-kazahstanu-ida