The military takeover that occurred in Myanmar on February 1st exacerbated the already challenging economic conditions in the country that had been driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous sectors experienced production halts or slowdowns, and foreign investors withdrew their investments. Additionally, Myanmar faced cash shortages, log-jammed transport and logistics networks, rising fuel costs, and shortages of essential inputs, all of which have compounded the difficulties faced by businesses and worsened the country’s macroeconomic situation.

However, there is a significant lack of regular and sector-specific economic performance assessments in Myanmar, primarily due to the absence of data related to high-frequency indicators essential for comprehensively gauging the full extent of the crisis. To address this need, UNDP has introduced a new approach to economic activity measurement, enhancing an existing methodology grounded in composite economic indicators. Our strategy involved the recruitment of a panel consisting of 100 experts, including business owners and leaders of business associations. They provided valuable insights into changes in economic activities, such as production, demand, and employment, within relevant sectors. The data collection process, that took place in two rounds, employed a mixed-method approach, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative questions.