Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In May 2021, the Business Activity Index (PMI), calculated by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, made up 918 points, and, compared to the previous month, decreased by 8.2%. 

Despite the decline in the business activity index in relation to the previous month, its growth is noted by 25.5% compared to the same period of last year.

The business activity index in May 2021 decreased by 8.2% and amounted to 918 points, compared to the previous month, which is explained by changes in the following components:

• the number of transactions on bank accounts of business entities decreased by 9.5%;

• the component of operating economic entities remained at the level of the previous month (0.0%);

• the intensity of purchasing raw materials at the commodity exchange decreased by 10.7%;

• the component of trade marks decreased by 19.2%.

In the regional context, Samarkand region showed the highest growth.

In May 2021, the PMI for 6 regions increased compared to the previous month (April 2021). In Samarkand (35.9%), Syrdarya (33.0%), Surkhandarya (31.9%) regions and in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (31.1%), there was a significant increase.

At the same time, in Ferghana (- 11.3%), Khorezm (- 10.4%), Kashkadarya (- 9.9%) and Namangan (- 6.5%) regions there was a significant decline in relation to the previous month.

The number of interbank payment transactions in May 2021 amounted to 4,576.8 thousand and decreased by 481.3 thousand transactions (-9.5%) compared to April 2021.

The number of banking operations in all regions has decreased.

In May 2021, the number of banking transactions between legal entities decreased in all regions compared to the previous month. In particular, the most significant decline was observed in Namangan (-17.8%), Samarkand (-15.5%), Surkhandarya (-15.1%) regions and in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (-17.2%).

In May 2021, the exchange component of the PMI was 0.893. This means a decline in the component level by 10.7% compared to the previous month, which is associated with both a decrease in the number of transactions (-7.0%) and a decrease in the average physical volume of goods purchased in each transaction (-14.4 %).

At the Republican Commodity Exchange, the total turnover in May 2021 amounted to 5.42 trillion soums, which is 2.6% less than in the previous month.

The number of interbank payment transactions in May 2021 amounted to 4,576.8 thousand and decreased by 481.3 thousand transactions (-9.5%) compared to April 2021.

The number of banking operations in all regions has decreased.

The component of operating economic entities in May 2021 amounted to 1.0000, which means that the level of the previous month is maintained. This indicator has a positive value in relation to the same period last year with an increase of 14.1%.

Despite the increase in the overall number of operating economic entities by 7,283 units in May 2021 compared to the previous month (546,867 units), this component decreased due to the reduction of large enterprises, the share of which is 27%.

The number of large enterprises decreased by 116 units.

During the reporting period, the number of small businesses increased from 436,742 to 443,497 units (an increase of 6,755 units). The number of farms increased from 106,941 to 107,585 (an increase of 644). The number of operating large enterprises amounted to 3,068 units, which is 116 units less than in April 2021.

In May 2021, the index of protected trademarks was 0.8079, which means a decline of 19.2% compared to the previous month. In May this year, legal entities registered 265 trademarks and trade names.