CONSUMER PRICES BOOST IN ARMENIA
news.am
March 10 2010
Armenia
The RA Statistical Service reported the consumer price index reached
108.2% this January-February as compared with the corresponding period
last year. The prices for almost all goods and services showed an
upward tendency – a 5.1% rise for food, 10% rise for clothing and
footwear, a 10.4% rise for paid services. The price for meat products
showed an 8.8% rise and that for fish products a 60.3% rise.
On the other hand, the prices for eggs and soft drinks fell by 12.3%
and 0.1% respectively. The sugar price rose by 34.8%, with actually
only one importing sugar to Armenia. To the joy of smokers and drinker,
the prices for tobacco and hard drinks rose by only 1.6%.
This price rise is not a specific feature of the period under review.
Rather, it was a logical result of last year’s trends. This February,
a 2% price rise was registered as compared with last December.
The rise in the gas price scheduled for April 1 will inevitably cause a
further rise in the prices for other products. As a result, the social
conditions of the Armenian population, particularly of the 500,000
pensioners and other socially vulnerable groups, will get even worse.