ArmInfo. In Armenia, the service sector increased volumes in the first quarter of this year by 17.3% per annum - up to 421.6 billion drams ($ 865.3 million), against 16.5% growth a year earlier. According to the data of the RA Statistical Committee, in March 2019 alone the volume of services provided amounted to 153.1 billion drams (over $ 314.3 million), having increased over the month by 10.8%.
According to statistical data, in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period of 2018, the volume of services provided in the fields of culture, entertainment and recreation accelerated growth from 19.8% to 40%, education - from 0.7% to 6.5%, financial and insurance - from 17.3% to 20.3%. At the same time, the volume of services rendered in the field of education slowed down from 25.4% to 23.5%, in terms of organizing accommodation for tourists and catering - from 25.4% to 23.5%, health care - from 31.9% to 16.9 %, real estate - from 10.5% to 3.4%, information and communication - from 8.4% to 8%, transport - from 16% to 1.9%, administrative and support activities - from 25.9% to 6.9%, professional, scientific and technical activities - from 20.7% to 4.2%.
According to statistical data, the sphere of culture, entertainment and recreation traditionally leads in the volume of services provided - 103.6 billion drams (24.6%). The second place in terms of services is occupied by the financial sector - 97.4 billion drams (23.1% of the total), with the lion's share (63.8%) accounted for by banks. The third place is occupied by information and communications - 62.1 billion drams (14.7%), and the main burden falls on the telecommunications segment (51.6%). The fourth place is occupied by the transport sector - 47.3 billion drams (11.2%). The top five are closed by the catering and tourist accommodation organization, with a range of services on 26.3 billion drams (6.2%).
The average settlement rate of the dram to the US dollar in March 2019 was 487.48 AMD/$ 1, and in January-March - 487.23 AMD/$ 1, against 480.41 AMD / $ 1 - in March 2018 and 481, 39 AMD/$ 1 - in January-March 2018.