ArmInfo.The inflation at the consumer market in Armenia from Jan- May 2017 was registered 2.1% versus 0.6% deflation of the same period in 2016. This was provoked by price food products increase (including alcohol and cigarettes) by 5.9%, with a decrease in the price of non- food products by 1.1% and a decrease in tariffs for services by 1%.
On an annual basis (as compared to January-May 2016), 0.4% inflation was registered in the consumer market (versus deflation of 1.6% a year ago), which was supported by the increase of food products by 3.9%, with the reduction in the price of non- food products at 3.1% and a decrease in tariffs for services by 2.3%. The average monthly increase in prices for food products in January-May 2017 was 0.4%, versus the decline of 0.1% a year earlier.
In May 2017, for May 2016, consumer prices increased by 1.6% due to the increase in price of food products by 5.9%, with a decrease in the price of non-food products and a decrease in tariffs for services by 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively. Only in May, deflation was registered at 0.2% versus the background of cheapening of food and non-food products by 0.7% and 0.1% respectively, with a 0.3% increase in tariffs for services. According to the National Statistical Service, in Yerevan consumer prices decreased by 0.2% in May 2017, versus the decline of 1% a year ago.
According to the statistics, May deflation in food market is based mainly on the reduction in the price of vegetables by 5.3%, and only in the capital - by 4.4%. In the annual cut (compared to May 2016), prices for vegetables jumped by 30.4%. Fruit prices decreased in May by 0.5%, with annual price increase by 17.5%. At the same time, in the capital fruit prices decreased by 1.8% in May. Confectionery products fell in price by 0.3% in May, and bakery products, cereals, coffee, tea, cocoa and non-alcoholic beverages in price for the reported period did not change.
Fish products went up by 23.6% on an annual basis, but only in May - by 0.8%, but in the capital there was a slight decrease in price - by 0.1%.
Meat products rose in price by 1.8% in annual terms, but only in May by 1.1%, while in the capital growth was registered at 0.9%.
Sugar prices in May increased by 0.1%, alcoholic beverages and cigarettes - by 0.2%, and only cigarettes grew by 0.5%.
Vegetable and melted butter rose in price in May 2017 to May 2016 by 2.6%, and only in May - by 0.2%, due to a rise in price of butter by 1.6%. In the non-food market, gasoline fell by 0.3% in May, and diesel fuel went up by 0.1%, compared to May 2016, gasoline and diesel fuel went up by 0.9% and 7.3%, respectively. For Jan-May 2017, gasoline and diesel fuel went up by 10.4% and 13.9%, respectively. Only in the capital, non-food products rose 0.1% in May.
May increase in prices for services was mainly due to the increase in tariffs in the transport sector - by 1.4% (due to an increase of 10.7% in tariffs for international flights), as well as increase in the price of hotel services by 1.1%. Parallel to this, services in the sphere of culture and recreation - by 1.2% and housing and communal services - by 0.1% fell in April, while tariffs in the spheres of health, communication and education have not changed. In the capital, tariffs for services rose by 0.2% in May.
