In Jan-Oct 2016 trade sector in Armenia slackened decline to 0.1% from 6.4% a year before

ArmInfo. In Jan-Oct 2016 versus Jan- Oct 2015, the revenues from the trade sector dropped by 0.1% (versus 6.4% decline a year before) to 1.7 trillion AMD ($3.7 bln), including 190.8 bln AMD ($401.5 mln) in October alone, with a 2.4% drop versus Sep 2016.

The slackening rate of decline was due to the positive dynamics of wholesale trade and car trade amid the slackening of the retail trade decline y-o-y. In particular, in Jan- Oct 2016, the wholesale trade grew by 2.5% y-o-y to 717 bln AMD ($1.5 bln) versus 2.9% decline a year before. In Jan-Oct 2016, the purchase and sale of cars dynamics sharply improved to 20% growth versus the previous 10.3% drop, and the purchase and sale totaled 71.5 bln AMD ($149 mln). In October alone, wholesale trade fell by 3.8% to 75.1 bln AMD, retail trade - by 1.4% to 106.7 bln AMD, and the car trade - by 2.4% to 9.1 bln AMD. 

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in Jan-Oct 2016 versus Jan-Oct 2015 retail trade fell by 3.2% (versus 8.3% decline a year before) to 965.4 bln AMD ($2 bln). In the structure of retail trade, the share of stores (including supermarkets) was the biggest - 744.5 bln AMD, or 77.1% (2.1% year-over-year growth). The share of other trade outlets was 123.7 bln AMD or 12.8% (25.9% y-o-y decline); the share of consumer markets was 59.9 bln AMD or 6.2%  (2% y-o-y decline); the share of stalls was 22.6 bln AMD or 2.4%  (4.5% y-o-y decline), and the share of farm markets made up 14.6 bln AMD or 1.5% (6.3% y-o-y decline).

In the structure of total trade turnover of Armenia, retail trade made up 55%, wholesale trade - 40.9%, and the purchase and sale of cars made up 4.1%.  In October 2016, the average AMD/USD exchange rate was 475.25 AMD/$1, and in Jan- Oct 2016 - 480.45 AMD/$1 versus 472.55 AMD/$1 in Oct 2015 and 477.19 AMD/$1 in Jan-Oct 2015.