ARMENIA’S GDP GROWS 5.5% IN MARCH 2010 ON SAME MONTH OF 2009

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 20, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s GDP grew by 5.5% in March
2010 as compared with the same month of 2009 and amounted to 560bn
65.1m drams (about bn 400.1m). The index-deflator of GDP made 10.2%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production
grew by 10.4% in Armenia in March 2010 on March 2009 and amounted to
177bn 490.3m drams.

Gross agricultural output increased by 3.2% to 42bn 543.6m drams,
construction declined by 0.6% to 46bn 718.1m drams.

Retail trade grew by 1% to 210bn 927.7m drams, services grew by 6.2%
to 173bn 833.5m drams.

Armenia’s foreign trade grew by 29% in March 2010 as compared with the
same month of 2009 and made bn 12.7m, with exports growing by 60.9%
to 8.5m and imports growing by 23.1% to 4.2m.

Consumer prices rose by 8.4%, the index of industrial production
prices – by 37.7% in March 2010 on March 2009.

The number of the officially registered unemployed persons increased
by 7.2% in March 2010 compared to March 2009 and made 84.4 thousand.

The average monthly nominal salary made 101,274 drams in March 2010
(5.6% growth compared with last year), including the average salary
of 83.810 drams in the state sector (4.4% growth) and the average
salary of 126.995 drams in the private sector (6.9% growth).

The average exchange rate of a US dollar made 384.08 drams in March
2010.