The Georgian Business Confidence Index (BCI) has decreased by 7.4 percentage points (-7.4, QoQ), but at 17.6 it remains higher than it was in the same quarter last year (12.0). The fourth-quarter decrease in the index was mostly driven by a significant decline in expectations.

The average cost of cooking one standard Imeretian Khachapuri varied across Georgian cities in November 2016, from 3.34 GEL, the minimum, observed in Batumi, to 3.55 GEL, the maximum, observed in Telavi. The average price was 3.46 GEL, which is 1.9% higher month-on-month (compared to October 2016). The Khachapuri Index is down up by 5.6% year-on-year (compared to November 2015), suggesting annual deflation as measured by the index.

After a temporary increase at the end of October, driven by seasonal fruits and vegetables, in the last two weeks of November, ISET’s Retail Food Price Index decreased by 0.1% m/m (compared to the last week of October) and 12.1% y/y (compared to November 2015). We recorded the biggest drops for bananas (-12%), tomatoes (-12%), and beef (-7%). On the other hand, prices increased most for cabbage (10%), plums (8%), and cucumber (2%).

The average cost of cooking one standard Imeretian Khachapuri in November 2016 stood at 3.46 GEL, which is 1.9% higher month-on-month (compared to October 2016). The Khachapuri Index is down up by 5.6% year-on-year (compared to November 2015), suggesting annual deflation as measured by the index.

Geostat has updated its GDP growth estimate for the third quarter of 2016. The Q3 growth rate stands at 2.2%, which was 1.3% below the ISET PI’s forecasted value. As a result of the update, the growth forecast for Q4 of 2016 was revised downward to 2.9% from the 4.1% projected in October.