Monday, March 20 2017 16:36

ArmInfo. In Armenia, economic activity in January-February 2017 compared to January-February 2016 increased by 6.2%. According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in the structure of economic activity the recession continues only in the construction sector - this time 13.8%. In other areas growth was noted, with the highest in the industrial sector (16.1%), services (11.1%) and energy complex (10.4%), against which the trade turnover grew slightly more modestly by 9.6% and the agricultural sector showed a minimal growth of 0.1%.

A year earlier, in January-February 2016, by January-February 2015, economic activity increased by 4.7%, against the background of 23.6% growth in exports and a 12.2% decline in imports. The decline was recorded only in the sphere of trade (-1.8%), while the growth was in the industrial sector (9.9%), services (9.8%), energy complex (7%), agricultural sector (2,5%) and the construction sector (2.1%).

Meanwhile, in February, compared with January (in the monthly section), the indicator of economic activity increased by 10.7%. At the same time, the only recession was registered in the energy complex by 12.9%. Against this background, the agricultural sector showed an increase by 55.8%, trade by 28.1%, construction sector by 24.5%, and industrial sector by 10.5% and services by 1.6%. In the same period (February 2017 to February 2016), economic activity increased by 6%, with the largest increase in the industrial sector by 19.9%, followed by the trade sector and the services sector with almost identical rates by 9.8% and 9.7% %, respectively, the energy complex by 6.9%. In the agricultural sector in February 2017, by February 2016, there was no change in dynamics, and the construction sector was in a 19.6% decline.

According to statistical data in January-February 2017, the absolute volume of trade is dominated by the trade sector with a volume of 292.2 billion AMD ($ 601 million). The second place in terms of volume is the industrial sector with 228.4 billion ($ 469.8 million), the third is the service sector with 194.2 billion AMD ($ 399.4 million), the fourth is the agricultural sector with 40.4 billion AMD ($ 83.1 million), and the fifth is the construction sector with 17.1 billion AMD ($ 35.2 million). The volume of electric power production in January-February 2017 was 1450.9 million kWh, of which only in February 675.3 million kWh. The industrial production price index increased by 4.9% in January-February 2017, only in February by 0.8%, and in comparison with February 2016 by 4.4%.

At the same time, Armenia's foreign trade turnover in January-February 2017 amounted to 371 billion AMD ($ 761 million) with annual growth of 22.2%. In its structure, the volume of exports has undergone an annual growth by 20.1% to 133.1 billion AMD ($ 273.7 million), and imports had an annual growth of 23.5% to 237.9 billion AMD ($ 487.3 million). Only for February 2017 foreign trade turnover grew by 22.9% due to the growth of exports by 25.3% and imports by 21.6%. In February 2017, by February 2016, these indicators grew by 11.6%, respectively, 10.1% and 12.4%. A year earlier, in January-February 2016, the foreign trade turnover underwent an annual decline of 1.7% due to a 12.2% drop in imports with an increase in exports of 23.6%, but only in February 2016, almost the same growth in exports and imports at 53 % and 53.5%, respectively, ensured an increase in foreign trade turnover by 53.3%, compared to February 2015, the growth of foreign trade turnover by 8.1% came from exports increased by 39.1% with a decrease in imports by 4.2%.

The average calculated exchange rate of AMD was 486.26 AMD/USD1 in January-February 2017, and only in February was 486.51 AMD/USD1, against 489.84 AMD/USD1 in January-February 2016 (only in February - 493, 64 AMD/USD1).

To note, the World Bank predicts GDP growth in Armenia in 2017 by 2,7%. The IMF predicts GDP growth of Armenia in 2017 by 3.4%. By Forecast of the Eurasian Development Bank GDP growth in Armenia in 2017 will be 2.9%. Fitch forecasts GDP growth in Armenia in 2017 at 2.1%. The state budget of the Republic of Armenia for 2017 laid the GDP growth by 3.2%.