ArmInfo. In Armenia, the service sector in 2020 reduced volumes by 14.7%, against 15% growth a year earlier, amounting to 1.7 trillion drams ($ 3.5 billion). According to the RA Statistical Committee, a negative trend was recorded in all service segments except for the finance, as well as information and communication. A similar trend is due to the coronavirus pandemic, the outbreak of which in Armenia in March 2020 led to restrictions on a number of economic activities that were in effect until September of last year.
In particular, the field of catering changed the trend from 26.1% growth to 45% decline, culture, entertainment and recreation - from 22.3% growth to 19.5% decline, education - from 3.4% % growth by 9.1% decline, healthcare - from 13.1% growth versus 1.2% decline.
The real estate market also declined by 14.6% versus a 5.5% growth in 2019. Transport services decreased by 35.2% from 9% growth. The state of the so-called administrative and support activities deteriorated by 46% against an increase of 8.9% in 2019. There was also a decline in scientific, professional and technical activities by 11.9% against 7.4% growth in the previous year. At the same time, services in the financial and insurance sectors, although slowed down the annual growth rate, nevertheless grew by 6.2%, against growth by 16.5% in 2019.
The field of information and communication - in terms of growth rates, dropped from 10.7% to 6.1%. The financial sector is in the lead in terms of the volume of services rendered - 467.5 billion drams (27.4% of the total), with the lion's share accounted for by banks. The second place is taken by the field of culture, entertainment and recreation- 339.4 billion drams (19.9% of the total). The third place is taken by the field of information and communication - 290.5 billion drams (17%), and the main load falls on the telecommunications segment. The fourth place is taken by the transport sector - 155.6 billion drams (9.1%). The five leaders in terms of the volume of services provided are closed by the catering and tourism sectors - 108.2 billion drams (6.3%).
The average calculated AMD exchange rate in December 2020 was 518.91 AMD / $ 1, and in January- December 2020 - 489.01 AMD / $ 1, against 478.24 AMD / $ 1 in December 2019 and 480.45 AMD / $ 1- in January -December 2019