Friday, April 26 2019 20:30

ArmInfo.In Armenia, the economic activity in January-March 2019 compared with January-March 2018 increased by 6.5%. According to preliminary data of the RA  Statistical Committee, the growth sector was made up by the service  sector - 17.3%, the construction sector - 10.8% and the trade sector  - 10.1%, against which growth of the industrial sector looked too  modest - 2%, and the agricultural sector and energy complex showed a  decline of 0.2% and 14%, respectively. In comparison with last year's  pace, growth was accelerated in the service sector, growth slowed  down in trade, construction, and the industrial sector, while the  agricultural sector and the energy complex shifted from growth to  recession.A year earlier, in January-March 2018, by January-March  2017, economic activity increased by 10.6%, amid growing exports by  34.4% and imports by 39%. 

At that time, growth was recorded in all sectors, but to a greater  extent in the construction sector - by 23%, services - by 16.5% and  the commercial sector - by 12.9%, against the background of a modest  growth in the industrial sector - by 8.2%, the agricultural sector -  by 2.2% and the energy complex - by 0.4%.Meanwhile, in March 2019  compared with February (in monthly terms), the indicator of economic  activity increased by 14.8% (against 16% in March 2018). Moreover,  all industries in the reporting month showed growth, but the most  significant was recorded in the construction sector.- 61.1%, followed  by the industrial sector - 16.1%, the service sector - 10.8%, the  energy complex - 9.3%, trade - 6.7%, and for the agricultural sector  the March data are not available in the statistical report. A year  earlier, in March 2018 compared with February, the only decline was  noted in the power complex - 9.6%, while other areas recorded growth:  the agricultural sector - 25.9%, the industrial sector - 17.5%, the  services sector - 13.1%, trade- up to 8.6% and the construction  sector - 94.4%.In the same year (March 2019 to March 2018), economic  activity increased by 6.2% (against 10.9% a year earlier). Moreover,  the service sector had the highest growth, but the pace slowed down  to 16.9% from last year's 18.8%, followed by the commercial sector,  slowing growth from 6.3% to 5.3%. 

The industrial sector showed a slowdown of growth - from 8.2% to  2.2%, the energy complex - from 6.9% to 3.4%, the construction sector  - from 23.2% to 0.5%, and for the agricultural sector, the data in  the statistical report are given.According to statistics in  January-March 2019, in absolute terms, the leadership is held by the  commercial sector with a volume of 651.7 billion drams (over $ 1.3  billion). The second largest industrial sector is423.8 billion ($  869.8 million), the third - services - 421.6 billion drams ($ 865.3  million), the fourth - agricultural sector - 74.8 billion drams ($  153.6 million), and the fifth - construction sector - 47.7 billion  drams ($ 98 million). The volume of electricity generation in  January-March 2019 was 1814.9 million kWh, of which only in March -  628.2 million kWh. The industrial price index increased by 0.3% in  January-March 2019 compared to the same period last year, increased  by 0.7% in March alone, and increased by 3% compared with March 2018,  while Previously, the dynamics were as follows: in January- March  2018 - an increase of 3.9% y / y, in March - a decline of 1.7%,  compared with March 2017 - an increase of 2.8%.At the same time, the  foreign trade turnover of Armenia in January-March 2019 amounted to  793.7 billion drams ($ 1,628.8 million) with an annual decline of 5%. 

In its structure, the volume of exports has undergone an annual  decline of 8.6% to 264.6 billion drams ($ 543 million), and imports -  by 3.1% to 529.1 billion drams ($ 1085.8 million). Only in March  2019, foreign trade turnover grew by 8.4% due to the growth of  imports by 8.8% and exports by 7.5%. In March 2019, by March 2018,  the meager increase in imports by 0.8% and the decline in exports by  2.5% reduced the foreign trade turnover by 0.4%. A year earlier, in  January-March 2018, the foreign trade turnover underwent annual  growth of 37.4% due to the growth of imports by 39% and exports by  34.4%; in March 2018, the growth of imports by 6.1% while export  remained unchanged ensured an increase in foreign trade turnover by  4%, compared with March 2017, the growth in foreign trade turnover by  28% was triggered by a 23.7% rise in exports and 30.3% in imports.The  average settlement rate of dram in March 2019 was 487.48 others / $  1, and in January-March - 487.23 others / $ 1. According to the  forecasts of the World Bank, GDP growth in Armenia in 2019 will be  4.3% with an acceleration in 2020 to 4.6%. According to the IMF  forecast, GDP growth in Armenia in 2019 will be 4.6% with a slowdown  in 2020 to 4.5%. The Central Bank of Armenia forecasts for 2019 GDP  growth in the range of 4.6-6.1%. In the state budget of the Republic  of Armenia for 2019, GDP growth of 4.9% is laid.