Armenia’s GDP Declines By 18.4% In January-August 2009 On Same Perio

ARMENIA’S GDP DECLINES BY 18.4% IN JANUARY-AUGUST 2009 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2008

NOYAN TAPAN
SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia’s GDP declined by 18.4% in January-August 2009 on the same
period of last year and made 1 trillion 761 billion 874 million drams
(about 4,987.1 million USD). The index-deflator of GDP made 100.2%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production
fell by 11.9% to 393bn 825.9m drams in January-August 2009 on the
same months of 2008.

The gross agricultural output declined by 1.5% to 281bn 546.7m drams,
construction volumes fell by 52.6% to 242bn 219.5m drams, retail trade
grew by 0.3% to 596bn 127.2m drams, while services declined by 1.4%
to 467bn 441.8m drams.

The foreign trade of Armenia dropped by 29.1% as compared with
January-August 2008 and amounted to 2bn 360.4m USD, with exports
declining by 41.1% to 408.9m USD and imports declining by 27% to 1bn
951.5m USD.

Consumer prices rose by 2.8%, industrial production prices fell by 0.5%
in January-August 2009 on the same period of 2008.

The number of the officially registered unemployed increased by 10.8%
in late August compared to the same month of last year and made
83.8 thousand.

The average monthly nominal salary amounted to 99,061 drams in
January-June 2009 (12.3% growth on the same months of 2008), including
the salary of 82.026 drams in the state sector (18.2% growth) and
the salary of 123,620 drams in the non-state sector (7.3% growth).

The average exchange rate of one US dollar amounted to 353.29 drams
in January-April 2009.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS