ARMENIAN GDP GROWS BY 13.2% IN FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2007
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2007, Armenian
GDP grew by 13.2% on the same period of 2006 and made 2 trillion 16
billion 623.2 million drams (over 5 bln 755 mln USD). The
index-deflator of GDP made 103.9%.
According to the National Statistical Service of the RA, industrial
production grew by 2,1% in Armenia in January-September 2007 on the
same months of 2006 and made 509 bln 443.1 mln drams, industrial
production without diamond production grew by 8.3% to 505 bln 695.3 mln
drams.
The gross agricultural output increased by 8.3% to 417 bln 791.4 mln
drams, construction – by 18.3% to 418 bln 669.6 mln drams, retail trade
– by 9.8% to 584 bln 372.2 mln drams, while services – by 16.9% to 391
bln 245.1 mln drams.
Armenia’s foreign trade increased by 38.6% to 3 bln 30 mln USD as
compared with January-September 2006. Exports grew by 22.8% to 835.4
mln USD, imports – by 45.7% to 2 bln 194.6 mln USD. Foreign trade
without diamond trade grew by 50.1% to 2 bln 790.3 mln USD, exports –
by 37.2% to 717.2 mln USD, while imports – by 55.1% to 2 bln 73.1 mln
USD.
Consumer prices rose by 3.8%, whereas industrial production prices fell
by 0.4% in January-September 2007 on the same months of last year.
Monetary incomes of the population increased by 25.5% in the first nine
months of 2007 on the same period of 2006 and made 1 trillion 399
billion 774.8 million drams, while monetary expenses grew by 23.9% to 1
trillion 348 billion 24.8 million drams. The average monthly salary
made 74.028 thousand drams (20.5% growth), including that of budgetary
institutions’ employees – 53.343 thousand drams (22.2% growth) and of
nonbudgetary institutions’ employees – 92.63 thousand drams (19.4%
growth). The average exchange rate of a US dollar made 350.41 drams in
January-September 2007, while in the whole year 2006 this rate made
416.04 drams.
The number of officially registered unemployed made 80.5 thousand in
Armenia in late September 2007, declining by 1.9% as compared with the
respective index of last year.