In the energy-producing regions, which normally account for roughly 15 per cent of the total, sales fell by 6 per cent. Some other categories of discretionary spending also slowed in 2018. For example, the growth in spending on vacations softened.
Notably, this involves committing to the maintenance of fiscal and broad macroeconomic discipline, investing domestic resources with a view to achieving specific human development objectives, and strengthening political accountability at national and regional levels.