The foreign trade turnover of Kazakhstan in January-December 2012 amounted to 136,825 million US dollars and compared with January-December 2011, increased by 9.8%, including export – 92 285.6 million US dollars (for 5 3% more), import – 44 539.4 million US dollars (20.2% more) . Growth of short-term economic indicator (hereinafter – the “STEI”) amounted to 102.6%. In January 2013 STEI was 102.6%. The STEI calculation is performed to ensure efficiency and is based on the change in index of production in basic industries: agriculture, industry, construction, trade, transport and communication, constituting 67-68% of the gross domestic product (hereinafter – the “GDP”).

According to current data, GDP in January-December 2012 at current prices comprised 30 072.5 billion tenge. Compared with the corresponding period of 2011, the real GDP grew by 5%. The share of production amounted to 40.7% in the GDP, services – 52.9%. In January 2013, investment in fixed assets amounted to 217.7 billion tenge, which is 7.5% more than in January 2012. The volume of industrial production in January 2013 amounted to 1 485.4 billion tenge in current prices, which is 0.7% more than in January 2012. In mining and quarrying, the output increased by 1.6%, in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply – by 2,7%. In manufacturing, production decreased – by 0.8%, water supply, sewerage system, control over the collection and distribution of waste – by 8.5%.

In January 2013, the volume of gross output (services), agriculture amounted to 64.6 billion tenge, which is 1.4% less than in January 2012.

In January 2013, the volume of cargo turn-over amounted to 34.8 billion ton-kilometers (estimating the volume of cargo turn-over of individual entrepreneurs engaged in commercial transportation) and decreased by 8.2% compared with January 2012. In January 2013 volume index on “Transport” industry was 106%. In January 2013 volume index on “Communication” industry volume index was 109.1%.The volume of retail sales for the reporting period amounted to 361 billion tenge (without catering turnover), and increased by 11.2% compared to January 2012. The volume of wholesale trade for the reporting period amounted to 811.5 billion tenge, and increased by 13% compared with January 2012. The scope of services for the provision of food and drinks for the reporting period amounted to 14.7 billion tenge, and increased by 5.4% compared with January 2012. In January 2013 volume index on “trade” industry, amounted to 112.3%.The foreign trade turnover of Kazakhstan in January-December 2012 amounted to 136,825 million US dollars and compared with January-December 2011 increased by 9.8%, including export – 92 285.6 million Dollars (up 5.3 % more), import – 44 539.4 million USD (20.2% increase).

As of 1 February 2013, the number of registered legal entities was 318,897 units, and increased compared with the corresponding period of the previous year by 5.8%, including 302,308 units with the employee numbers of less than 50 persons. The number of operating entities amounted to 175,543, among which, the small businesses comprise 159,874. The number of registered small businesses (legal entities) in Kazakhstan totaled 231,036 units, and increased by 6.7%.compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

 In January 2013, the consumer price index amounted to 100.9% compared to December 2012. The food prices increased by 0.5%, non-food – by 0.2%, paid services – by 2.2%. In January 2013, prices of enterprises producers of industrial products decreased by 0.3% compared with December 2012. Per capita nominal income of the population estimated in December 2012 amounted to 59,423 tenge, which is 5.9% higher than in December 2011. Real income for the period was decreased by 0.1%.

Average monthly nominal wages accrued to employees was 127,402 tenge in December 2012. Growth in December 2011 was 6.9%. In December 2011, index of real wages amounted to 100.9%.

The number of unemployed, according to the assessment made in January 2013, amounted to 488.1 thousand persons. The unemployment rate was 5.4% against economically active population. At the end of January 2013, the number of persons registered as unemployed with employment offices was 47.9 thousand, or 0.5% of the economically active population. The level of hidden unemployment is estimated to be 0.4% of the economically active population.

Source: www.stat.kz