GDP GROWS BY 12.5% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006,
Armenia’s GDP made 1 trlillion 720 billion 63 million drams
(about 4 billion USD), exceeding by 12.5% the respective index
of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
GDP index-deflator made 105.1%. The industrial production made 468
bln 10.6 mln drams, declining by 1.6% on the same pertiod of last
year, that without diamond production – 465 bln 902.8 mln drams,
growing by 1.5%. The gross agricultural output made 370 bln 568 mln
drams, remaining unchanged compared with January-September 2005,
and construction volume amounted to 393 bln 803 mln drams, growing
by 39.6%. In January-September 2006, Armenia’s foreign trade made
2 bln 208.2 mln USD or by 12.1% more than in the same period of last
year. The same indices without diamond trade made 1 bln 861 mln USD and
19.5%. Exports made 699.4 mln USD, declining by 0.9%, exports without
diamonds – 522.4 mln USD, growing by 3.4%. Imports made 1 bln 508.7 mln
USD, growing by 19.4%, imports without diamonds – 1 bln 338.6 mln USD,
grwoing by 27.3%. Retail trade amounted to 536 bln 273.5 mln drams, or
by 10.9% more than in the same period of last year, while services –
to 338 bln 472.5 mln drams, or by 22% more. The consumer price index
made up 102% in January-September 2006 on the same months of 2005,
the index of prices of manufacturers’ production – 97.2%. The average
monthly nominal salary in January-September 2006 made 61.320 thousand
drams, growing by 22.1% on the same months of last year.
The same indices with respect to employees of budgetary institutions
made 42.684 thousand drams and 22.6%, with respect to employees of
non-budgetary institutions – 75.074 thousand drams and 20.5%. Monetary
incomes of the population made 1 trillion 142 billion 572.2 million
drams, growing by 19.8%, monetary expenditures – 1 trillion 114
billion 915.6 million drams, growing by 20.3%.
The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar
was 430.04 drams in January-September 2006 compared with 457.69 drams
in January-December of last year.