In Jan-May 2016, trade sector in Armenia experienced insignificant decline of 0.1% due to upward trend of wholesale trade

ArmInfo. In Jan-May 2016 versus Jan-May 2015, the revenues from the trade sector dropped by 0.1% only (versus 8.6% decline a year before) to 774.3 bln AMD ($1.6 bln) due to slackening decline rates of retail trade from 4.6% to 4.2% and positive trend of wholesale trade and trade of cars. In particular, in Jan-May 2016, the wholesale trade grew by 5.2% y-o-y to 307.5 bln AMD ($633.8 mln) versus 11.3% decline a year before. In May 2016 alone, the trade turnover in Armenia grew by 5.3% to 173.3 bln AMD ($362.2 mln).

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in Jan-May 2016 versus Jan- May 2015 retail trade fell by 4.2% (versus 6.9% decline a year before) to 439.6 bln AMD ($906.2 mln). In May alone, the revenues from retail trade grew by 6.8% to 98.2 bln AMD ($205.3 mln). In the structure of retail trade, the share of stores (including supermarkets) was the biggest - 332 bln AMD, or 75.5% (2.1% year-over-year growth).  The share of other trade outlets was 60.4 bln AMD or 13.7% (28.6% y-o-y decline); the share of consumer markets was 29.2 bln AMD or 6.6% (4.2% y-o-y decline); the share of stalls was 11 bln AMD or 2.5% (3.4% y-o-y decline), and the share of farm markets made up 7 bln AMD or 1.7% (0.8% y-o-y growth).

In Jan-May 2016, the purchase and sale of cars sharply grew by 10.7% to 27.2 bln AMD ($56.1 mln). In May alone, the car trade grew by 26.4% to 8 bln AMD ($16.8 mln).  In the structure of the total trade turnover of Armenia, retail trade made up 56.8%, wholesale trade - 39.7%, and the purchase and sale of cars made up 3.5%.

In May 2016, the average AMD/USD exchange rate was 478.37 AMD/$1, and in Jan-May 2016 - 485.13 AMD/$1 versus 480.25 AMD/$1 in May 2015 and 477.22 AMD/$1 in Jan-May 2015.