Yerevan, April 22, Noyan Tapan. Within the first quarter of this year the economic growth of Armenia reached 93.9 per cent, which means 6.1 per cent of downturn of economy. According to the statistical data of the National Statistical Service, decline was observed in all basic spheres of economy, except retail trade. The retail trade turnover reached 192.9 billion AMD ensuring 3.9 per cent growth over the year. The sharpest drop was observed in the construction business, which reduced by 21.9 per cent shrinking to 40.1 billion AMD. Industrial production decreased by 9.5 per cent to 133.1 billion AMD. Particularly, electricity production reduced by 16.2 per cent declining to 1.4 billion AMD. The agriculture sphere dropped by 5.1 per cent declining to 39.6 billion AMD, and services (except retail trade) declined by 0.7 per cent to 157.5 billion AMD. Annual price growth reached 2 per cent, meanwhile price growth compared to December is 0.7 per cent. Foreign trade turnover reduced by 27.7 per cent to 782 million USD. Particularly, exports decreased by 47.3 per cent and totaled 123.4 million USD, while the decrease of imports was only 22.2 per cent and imports reduced to 658.5 million USD. This means that over the three month of this year the imports surpassed exports more than 5.3 times. The number of officially registered unemployed totaled 78.7 thousand at the end of March, which indicates a 5.3 per cent increase in the annual unemployment level. The average nominal salary (without taking into account the price growth factor) reached 97 899 AMD, growing by 16.4 per cent per annum. A consumer price index grew 0.7 per cent in the first quarter, compared with the previous year.

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