KYIV, Aug 1 – The business activity expectations index (BAEI), which the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) calculates on a monthly basis, after three months of being in above its neutral level of 50 points (from 50.5 to 51.5 points) in July fell by 2 points to the level of 48.8 on a scale from zero to 100.

"Higher electricity prices for businesses, the reimposition of pre-war taxes on fuel prices, the halt in the operations of the grain corridor, more intense missile attacks on infrastructure, together with considerable shortages of qualified staff, had an adverse effect on companies’ expectations," the central bank said.