Wednesday, May 2 2012 16:40
GDP up 18,4% for March 2012 in Armenia
ArmInfo. GDP up 18,4% for March 2012 in Armenia versus February, and by 6,1% for Jan-March 2012 versus the same period of 2011 thanks to the construction sector which has become the leader of the GDP growth like at the pre-crisis period.
The country experienced economic growth for Jan-March 2012 as construction scales amounted to 40.2 bln drams ($103.4 mln, growth by 5,5%), 20.7 bln drams ($53.2 mln) of which were provided only in March, growth by 99,8% versus February. The industry grew 16.4% (9.2% growth for March) to 85.6 billion drams. The industrial production index grew by 3,1% for March and by 6,2% for Jan-Mar.
Services provided to the population were up 11.5% for Jan-Mar 2012 versus the same period of 2011 and amounted to 211.2 bln drams ($543.6 mln), and for Mar - 13,3% up to 74,9 bln drams. Retail trade turnover for Jan-Mar 2012 versus the same period of 2011 was up 0.3% to 382.1 billion drams ($983.6 million). Agricultural production amounted to 65 bln drams ($167.4 mln) Jan-Mar 2012 (up 23,2% for Mar, 27.1 bln drams (69,6 mln). The consumer prices index amounted to 103,3% for Jan-Mar 2012, and 100,1% for March.
Foreign turnover was up 15% over Jan-Mar 2012 versus Jan-Mar 2011 and totaled 506.2 bln drams ($1,303.7 mln), and only in March - 204.4 bln drams or $525.6 mln. In the structure of foreign turnover, export grew 32.4% for Jan-Mar - up to 135 bln drams ($347.6 mln) and 44.5% for Mar - up to 63.2 bln drams ($162.5 mln) Import was up 9.8% for Jan-Mar - up to 371.2 bln drams ($956.1 mln), and for March - 14% up to 141.2 bln drams ($363.1 mln).
The exchange rate of the Armenian dram and US dollar averaged 388.43 AMD/$1USD for Jan-Mar 2012 and only for March - 389,13 AMD/$1.