KYIV, Dec 2 - The Business Activity Expectations Index, calculated by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), in November fell to 49.8 from 51.4 in October and for the first time in seven months (from May 2021) was below the neutral level, according to the results of a survey of enterprises conducted by the central bank.

"In November, businesses downgraded their views about their economic outlook. This is evidenced by the business activity expectations index, which the NBU calculates on a monthly basis … Surging energy prices, shortages of raw materials, higher production costs and an increase in COVID-19 cases, both in Ukraine and globally, weakened expectations in most of the surveyed sectors," the NBU said.