Wednesday, April 3 2019 16:09

ArmInfo. In the consumer market of Armenia in the Q1 of 2019, inflation was recorded at 2.6% against last year's 2.5%. In the Q1 of this year inflation was mainly  provoked by a 5.8% rise in the price of food products and, to a  lesser extent, a rise in tariffs for services by 0.1%, in parallel  with the decrease in non-food prices by 0.4%. According to the RA  Statistics Committee, the average monthly price increase in the Q1 of  this year amounted to 0.9%, against 0.8% a year earlier.

In Q1 of 2019 compared with the same period of 2018, inflation was  1.5%, against 3.3% inflation a year earlier. Moreover, food and  non-food products rose in price by 2.6% and 0.8% respectively, with a  0.4% increase in tariffs for services.

In March alone of this year inflation was 0.1%, which was exactly  observed a year earlier in the same month. In particular, the March  inflation was triggered by a rise in prices for non-food products by  0.6%, while the tariffs for services remained unchanged and the food  products were scanty cheaper by 0.1%. In Yerevan, consumer prices  rose in March by 0.2%, against a growth of 0.3% in March 2018.

Y-O-Y inflation (March 2019 to March 2018) amounted to 1.9% (against  inflation of 3.7% in March 2018 to March 2017), namely, food products  increased in price by 3.5%, non-food products - by 0.9%, tariffs for  services increased by 0.1%.

According to statistics, the March deflation in the food market  (0.1%) is mainly due to the reduction in the cost of sugar and  granulated sugar by 0.9%, and the decline in prices by 0.7% of  vegetables, meat, dairy products, cheese and eggs.

Vegetables fell in March by 0.7%, and in y-o-y terms (compared with  March 2018) rose by 8.2%. In the capital, vegetables moved by 2.2% in  March.

Meat products also fell in March by 0.7% (in Yerevan - by 0.3%), but  in y-o-y terms they increased in price by 3.6%. Moreover, the poultry  meat went up in March (by 2.1%) and in y-o-y terms (by 11.6%). Dairy  products, cheese and eggs, both in March and in y-o-y terms, fell by  0.7%, while the cost of eggs in the specified period decreased by  0.4%. In the capital, this group of products fell in March by 0.6%.

Sugar and granulated sugar fell in y-o-y terms by 11.8%, but in March  alone - by 0.9% (in Yerevan - by 1.6%).  Vegetable and baked butter  prices increased by 0.5% in March 2019 versus March 2018, having  dropped as much in March alone. Moreover, in the capital, vegetable  and baked butter fell in March by 0.5%.

Coffee, tea, cocoa fell in March by 0.2%, while soft drinks, fish and  seafood did not change in price.

Baked goods and cereals rose in price per year by 3.8%, and in March  alone - by 1%. Flour rose in price per year by 4%, and bread - by 5%,  and in March alone - by 0.5% and 1.3%, respectively. In the capital,  bakery products and cereals went up in March by 1.4%.  Fruits have  risen in price per year by 3.3%, but in March alone - by 1.3%, and in  the capital - by 0.7%. -sh-

Alcohol and cigarettes went up in March by 0.6%, while  domestically-made cigarillos rose in price by 1.3%.

In the non-food market, the March price increase of 0.6% was  triggered by the rise in price of footwear by 1.2% and clothing - by  2.8%, with the y-o-y growth of prices for these goods by 3.6% and  0.2%, respectively. In addition, pharmaceutical products went up by  0.1%, kitchen utensils, gardening tools, fuel and lubricating oil -  by 0.2%, dishes and home furnishings - by 0.3%, office supplies - by  0.5%, furniture and wardrobes - by 0.7%, small household appliances -  by 0.9%, washing and cleaning products, large household appliances,  jewelry - by 1%. In parallel with this, building materials fell in  price by 0.4%, and flooring and carpets did not change in price.  Gasoline and diesel fuel for March rose in price by 1.7% and 2.6%,  respectively, but fell by 8.2% and 2.9% in y-o-y terms, and in  January-March prices decreased by 5.5% and 2.9 % In the capital,  prices for non-food products rose in March by 1%.

Tariffs for services increased in March in the sector of transport  and repair of household appliances - by 0.1%, legal services - by  0.2%, in the sector of culture - by 0.3%, in restaurants, cafes and  similar institutions - by 0 ,9%. In parallel, the tariffs for  recreation services decreased by 0.1%. In March, tariffs for  communications, education, health care, as well as hairdressing and  SPA salons did not change. In the capital, tariffs for services in  March have not changed.