Ukraine's State Statistics Service says consumers' spending in April-June 2020 shrank by 10.4% year-over-year, while their purchases during the quarantine totaled UAH 649.3 billion (US$23 billion).
Read alsoUkrainians boost purchases of goods online in 2020Ukrainians spent money mainly on food and soft drinks, that is UAH 278.684 billion (US$9.9 billion), or 42.9% of their expenditures. Housing and utility services bills accounted for 13.9%, or UAH 90.617 billion (US$3.2 billion). Transport expenditures ranked third, i.e. UAH 50.493 billion (US$1.8 billion), the report said.
Then comes spending on alcohol, tobacco, drugs (7.5% of all expenditures); health care services (6.3%); clothing and footwear (4.3%); various goods and services (4.2%); household items and appliances, as well as current housing maintenance (4%); recreation and culture (2.8%); telecoms services (2.7%); restaurants and hotels (2.6%); and education (1%).
Background
- A total of 69% of Ukrainians have experienced the economic impact of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey commissioned by UNICEF.
- Moreover, Ukrainians see a shortage of gadgets amid the lockdown since, in conditions of curbs, access to the Internet and computers has become a prerequisite for full-fledged education.
- According to the poll, 16% of Ukrainians experienced a shortage of gadgets, while 73% used the Internet daily during the quarantine.