KYIV, Jan 2 – The Business Activity Expectations Index, calculated by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) on a scale from zero to 100, dropped by 3.4 points in December to 45.7 points, remaining below the neutral level for the third month in a row (50 points), the central bank said on Tuesday.

"Uncertainty about the duration of the hostilities, risks that international aid will arrive irregularly and in insufficient amounts, rising logistics costs due to the blockade of the border, high fuel prices, narrowing investment demand, shortages of skilled workers, and weaker demand worsened the business outlook of companies across all of the surveyed sectors," the NBU said.