The average cost of cooking one standard Imeretian khachapuri in September 2018 was 3.56 GEL, which was 3.7% higher month-on-month (m/m, as compared to the previous month), and 2.1% lower year-on-year (y/y, as compared to the same month last year). However, khachapuri became cheaper for those earning in foreign currency as a result of the y/y depreciation of the lari relative to both the USD and EUR in September 2018.
In September 2018, the Georgian Consumer Confidence Index decreased marginally by 1 index point compared to August 2018 (from -14.2 to -15.2). Negative dynamics can be observed for the second consecutive month; however, in September, a negative change was observed, caused by a drop in the Expectations Index of 4.4 index points (from -8.7 to -13.1), while in the previous month the decrease was caused by a deterioration in the Present Situation Index, which now seems to have recovered slightly by 2.5 index points, again compared to August, from -19.8 to -17.3.
In September 2018, the Khachapuri Index showed an upward seasonal trend, reaching 3.56 GEL. This is a 3.7% increase over the previous month (August 2018) but is 2.1% lower compared to September 2017 (y/y). Such an increase in prices at this time of year is not unique to the Khachapuri Index.
In September 2018, Georgian power plants generated 849 mln. KWh of electricity. This represents a 3% increase in total generation, compared to the previous year (in 2017, total generation in September was 820 mln. kWh). The increase in generation on a yearly basis comes from an increase in wind power (+18%) and thermal power generation (+50%), more than offsetting the decline in HPP generation (-4%).
Agricultural production has decreased by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. In spite of decline in agricultural production, FDI in agriculture has increased. While FDI in agriculture is relatively low compared to the other sectors of Georgian economy, it should be noted that, agricultural FDI in the second quarter of 2018 reaches its maximum for the last three years.