YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia's GDP amounted to 132 bln 7.3 mln drams (about 435 mln USD) in January 2009, declining by 0.7% on January 2008. The index-deflator of GDP made 99.7%, the Head of the RA National Statistical Service Stepan Mnatsakanian announced at the February 20 press conference. Industrial production made 41 bln 723.9 mln drams, declining by 6.5% on January 2008; gross agricultural output amounted to 13 bln 381.3 mln drams, growing by 0.4%; construction volumes made 11 bln 135 mln drams, growing by 13.4%. Retail trade made 61 bln 974 mln drams, increasing by 5.9% on January of last year; the services amounted to 49 bln 792 mln drams, growing by 1.4%. The consumer price index made 104%, the index of prices of manufacturers' production made 91.2% as compared with January 2008. The number of the officially registered unemployed made 75.7 thousand in late January 2009, growing by 4.7% on the same month of last year. The average monthly nominal salary made 94.246 drams in Armenia in January 2009, exceeeding by 14.4% the index of January 2008. Foreign trade of Armenia amounted to 254.3 million USD in January 2009. Exports made 34.2 mln USD (43.9% fall), imports made 220.1 mln USD (20.2% fall as compared with January 2008). The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar made 305.5 drams in January 2009.

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