YEREVAN, OCTOBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. 0.7% growth in food commodity prices was recorded in Armenia in September on August 2008, mainly due to a growth in prices of vegetables, meat products and fish. According to the RA National Statistical Service, prices of vegetables and potato rose by 2.1% in Armenia in September on August 2008 and fell by 10.8% in September 2008 on September 2007. There was a growth in prices of cucumber (1.6%), potato (4.3%), herbs (4.7%), cabbage (7.5%), green beans (10.1%). Prices of carrot, beet, egg-plant, onion, green pepper, garlic and tomato fell by 2-14.2%. There was 1.8% inflation in the commodity group of meat products in September on August 2008 and 9.8% inflation in September 2008 on September 2007. Beef and pork prices grew by 0.3% and 9.6% respectively, while mutton prices fell by 4.7% in September on August 2008. The average republican price of granulated sugar increased by 0.3% in September on August 2008. Prices of dairy products, coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks and bread products rose by 0.1-0.3% in September on August 2008. Prices in the commodity groups of other foodstuffs, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes remained at the level of the previous month. 3% price fall was recorded in the fruit commodity group in September on August 2008, 4.7% fall was recorded in September 2008 on September 2007. There was a fall in prices of grapes (35.8%), melon (28%), peach (20.5%), pear (2.7%), as well as in prices of imported fruit: red pulp orange (12.9%), lemon (6.2%), tangerine (2.9%), and orange (1%) in September on August 2008. The average republican price of eggs declined by 1.2% in September on August 2008. Prices of butter, vegetable oil and confectionery fell by 0.2% in Armenia in the indicated period.

---