Belarus’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3% in the second quarter compared with the same period last year. In the first quarter, GDP declined by 0.2%. The figures were published in the National Bank of Belarus’s quarterly inflation review. As previously reported, the country’s GDP increased by a cumulative 1.5% in the first half of the year.
“The recovery in economic activity was supported by stronger investment activity, as well as higher household final consumption expenditure.
In the second quarter of 2026, investment in fixed capital increased by 10%, following a 2.7% decline in the previous quarter.
Growth in the consumer market during the reporting quarter was driven by faster growth in real wages and consumer lending,” the National Bank said.
Retail trade turnover increased by 9% in April-June compared with the same quarter of 2025. In January-March, turnover had grown by 6%.
Consumption growth was concentrated in the non-food segment, where turnover increased by 12.1%. One of the main drivers was car sales, which rose by 60.5% in the first half of the year amid attractive car loan conditions.
In the food segment, retail trade turnover growth accelerated to 5.4% from 3.9%.
