Wednesday, July 8 2020 12:23

ArmInfo. The turnover of the  Armenian trade sector continues to decline. According to the RA  Statcommittee, in January-May 2020, the trade sector showed a decline  of 10.8% yoy (against growth of 9.4% a year earlier), with a volume  of 1.027 trillion. drams ($ 2.1 billion).  This decline is due to a  noticeable decline in retail sales and slightly smaller car and  wholesale trade.  However, only in May 2020, the trade sector showed  a growth of 33.3% after the April recession of 29.4%, with a volume  of 210.6 billion drams ($ 435 million).

According to statistical data, wholesale trade in January-May  decreased by 8.1% yoy to 516.7 billion drams ($ 1.1 billion),  compared with an increase of 13.7% a year earlier. In May 2020 alone,  the wholesale trade turnover in Armenia increased by 44% to 94.7  billion drams, after the April decline of 22.5%.  Retail trade  reduced revenue in January-May by 13.4% yoy to 476.7 billion drams,  against 7.8% growth a year earlier. In May alone, retail trade  turnover increased by 25.4% to 109.5 billion drams, after the April  decline of 37.6%.

In the structure of retail trade, the largest turnover is provided by  shops (including supermarkets) - 384.1 billion drams or 80.6% (with  an annual decline of 11.8%), other retail facilities - 61.5 billion  drams or 13% (with an annual decline of 16.8%), followed by consumer  goods markets with a margin of 16.4 billion or 3.4% (with an annual  decline of 32.1%), stalls and kiosks - 10.6 billion or 2.2% ( with an  annual decline of 12.3%) and agricultural markets - 3.9 billion, or  0.8% (with an annual decline of 19.9%).

The volume of car purchase / sale in January-May 2020 decreased by  11.7% to 33.3 billion drams, against a decline of 17.8% a year  earlier. On a monthly basis, revenue from the purchase / sale of cars  increased by 28.5% to 6.3 billion drams, after the April 12.5%  decline.

In the structure of the total trade turnover of Armenia, the share of  wholesale trade is 50.3%, retail - 46.5%, and the remaining 3.2% are  car purchase / sale.

Recall that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection  in Armenia, a state of emergency was introduced on March 16, which  was to last until July 13, but there is a high probability of an  extension of another month. With the introduction of the emergency, a  temporary ban was imposed on many types of economic activity, which,  despite the gradual relaxation of these restrictive measures, and  since May 18 the complete lifting of the ban, negatively affected  macroeconomic indicators. Moreover, international air, rail and bus  services have not yet been resumed, which has a direct impact on the  tourism industry and related segments. And the extremely high  uncertainty of the coronavirus situation further exacerbates  expectations in the direction of the negative scenario.