Ukraine posts biggest CIS industrial decline in 8 mths
MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Ukraine had the worst industrial decline among CIS countries in the first eight months of 2009.
The CIS Interstate Statistical Committee said industrial output plummeted 29.6% year-on-year in Ukraine, 24.6% in Moldova, 14% in Russia, 12.7% in Kyrgyzstan, 11.9% in Armenia, 11.4% in Tajikistan, 4.6% in Belarus and 1.5% in Kazakhstan in January-August.
Azerbaijan's industry grew 3.9% in the eight months and Uzbekistan's rose 9.1% year-on-year in the first half of 2009, the latest period for which figures are currently available for that country.
The Committee did not have figures for Turkmenistan and has stopped publishing data about Georgia, which officially withdrew from the CIS in August 2009.
Annualized inflation was highest in Ukraine also at 17.1% in January-August 2009 compared with the same period last year. Belarus had 14.1% inflation, Kyrgyzstan - 10.4%, Russia - 12.8%, Kazakhstan - 8%, Tajikistan - 7.7%, Armenia - 2.8%, Azerbaijan - 2.6% and Moldova - 0.5%.
Industrial output in the CIS averaged down 14% year-on-year in the eight months, freight haulage - 20% and retail - 6%.
Not all CIS countries have calculated GDP for the eight months, but of those that have, Azerbaijan reported growth of 5%, Kyrgyzstan - 3.4% and Tajikistan - 1.8%, however Armenia's economy shrank 18.4% and that of Belarus fell 0.5%.