ArmInfo. In Jan-Dec 2016 versus Jan-Dec 2015, the turnover in the trade sector grew by 1% (versus 8% decline a year before) to 2.2 trillion AMD ($4.6 bln). In December 2016 alone, the trade turnover in Armenia grew by 46.4% to 283.8 bln AMD ($587.8 mln).
The positive trend was due to improvement of the wholesale and car trade and slackening of the year-over- year decline in retail trade. In 2016, wholesale trade grew by 4.5% to 895.2 bln AMD ($1.8 bln) versus 4.2% decline a year before. In Jan-Dec 2016 the purchase and sale of cars rose by 22.5% versus 9.8% decline a year before, and totaled 94.8 bln AMD ($197.4 mln). In December alone, wholesale trade rose by 25.9% to 97.4 bln AMD, retail trade - by 61.4% to 177.6 bln AMD, and car trade - by 44% to 13.8 bln AMD.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia reports that in Jan-Dec 2016 retail trade turnover amounted to 1.2 trillion AMD ($2.6 bln), dropping by 2.6% versus 10.1% decline a year before.
In the structure of retail trade, the share of stores (including supermarkets) was the biggest - 963.2 bln AMD, or 77.5% (2.1% year-over-year growth). The share of other trade outlets was 153.1 bln AMD or 12.3% (23.8% y-o-y decline); the share of consumer markets was 81.2 bln AMD or 6.5% (2.6% y-o-y decline); the share of stalls was 27.5 bln AMD or 2.2% (5% y-o-y decline), and the share of farm markets made up 18.5 bln AMD or 1.5% (7% y-o-y drop).
In total trade turnover of Armenia, retail trade made up 55.7%, wholesale trade - 40.1%, and car trade - 4.2%.
The average AMD/USD exchange rate was 482.84 AMD/$1 in Dec 2016 and 480.49 AMD/$1 in Jan-Dec 2016, versus 482.93 AMD/$1 in Dec 2015 and 477.92 AMD/$1 in Jan-Dec 2015.
