OREANDA-NEWS  On 20 November was announced, that in the third quarter of 2008, high prices of raw materials were one of the main restraining factors for 37.6% of all Belarusian companies, according to the National Bank’s monitoring of the real economy covering July-September 2008.

In April-June last year, the share of companies concerned over prices of raw materials was at 31%.

The figures were highest in transport, 52.3%, industry, 42.7%, and construction, 31.6%. In the third quarter of 2007, the figures were at 38.3%, 37.3% and 25.3%.

Most companies, 48.1%, called the shortage of proceeds to finance day-to-day operations the key factor restraining their output, down from 52.6%..

Other factors include shortage of working assets, mentioned by 39% of companies, non-payments of consumers, 34.8%, insufficient demand, 25.7%, administrative restrictions on prices, 23.9%, shortage of personnel and equipment, 21.5%, taxes, 18.3%, and competition with imports, 15.3%.