PRICES OF FOOD COMMODITIES GROW BY 3.8% IN ARMENIA IN DECEMBER 2006 ON NOVEMBER 2005

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A 3.8% inflation was registered in
the Armenian food commodity market in November 2006 on December 2005,
and a 7.8% inflation in November 2006 on November 2005. According to
the RA National Statistical Service, a 2.1% rise of food commodity
prices was registered in the country in November on October 2006,
which was mostly conditioned by 4.6-24.1% growth in prices of eggs,
fruit, vegetables, potato and fish products. The 24.1% inflation
in the commodity group of fish products in November on October 2006
was the result of a 36.7% and 29.3% rise in the prices of smoked and
fresh white fish respectively. A 36.4% inflation was registered the
vegetable and potato commodity group in November 2006 on November
2005. During the indicated period, the rise in the price of onion
made 8.7%, of cucumber – 10.2%, cauliflower – 12.8%, cabbage – 20.4%,
garlic – 40%, carrot – 52.2%, tomato – 53.9%, beet – 57.7%, potato –
72.5%. A 13.2% inflation was registered in Armenia in the vegetable
and potato commodity group in November on October 2006, which is the
result of the growth in prices of onion – 13.2%, green pepper – 33.4%,
eggplant – 36.7%, cucumber – 55.7%, and tomato – 2.3fold. Prices of
beet, carrot, garlic and potato grew by 6.4-12.7% in the indicated
period. The 25.6% inflation in the fruit commodity group in November
2006 on November 2005 was mainly due to the growth in prices of apple –
35.7%, pear – 43.5%, watermelon – 1.8fold, melon – 2.1fold and peach
– 2.3fold. A 9.2% growth in fruit prices was registered in November
on October 2006, mostly due to the growth in prices of pear – 9.2%,
apple – 12.6%, grapes – 31.7%, peach – 46.5%, watermelon – 87.3% and
melon – 54.3%. At the same time, there was a 2-30.4% decline in prices
of tangerine, lemon, pine-apple, orange and banana in the country.

The average price of eggs grew by 21.2% in November 2006 on
November 2005 and 4.6% on October 2006. A 0.1-1.1% growth in prices
of butter, vegetable oil, other products, confectionery, bread
products, milk products, coffee, tea and cocoa was registered in
the country in November on October 2006. In the indicated priod,
the prices of granulated sugar and meat products declined by 1.9%
and 1% respectively, while the prices of soft and alcoholic drinks
and cigarettes remained at the previous month’s level.