ArmInfo. In the consumer market of Armenia in the first quarter of 2021, inflation was recorded at 3.8% against last year's 1.7%. In the first quarter of this year inflation was mainly provoked by the rise in prices for foodstuffs by 6% and non-foodstuffs by 4.3%, with an increase in tariffs for services by 0.9%.
According to the data of the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in March of this year alone inflation was 1% (versus inflationary 0.5% a year earlier in the same month). In particular, the March inflation was provoked by a rise in prices for non-food products by 1.6% and foodstuffs by 1%, while tariffs for services increased by 0.5%. In Yerevan, consumer prices increased by 1.1% in March, against growth by 0.6% in March 2020.
In the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, inflation was recorded at 5.2%, against deflationary 0.1% a year earlier. Moreover, food products rose in price in y-o-y terms by 7.4%, non-food products by 6.9%, while tariffs for services increased by 1.7%.
In March 2021 versus March 2020, inflation was recorded at 5.8% (against deflation of 0.1% in March 2020 versus March 2019), provoked by an increase in the price of food products by 7.6%, non-food products by 8.4% and an increase in tariffs for services by 2.2%.
According to statistics, fruit prices rose 6.9% on the food market in March, with an annual rise of 10.9%. And vegetables in March, on the contrary, fell in price by 4.7%, having risen in price by 1.4% in y-o-y terms.
Oil of vegetable and animal origin increased in price in y-o-y terms by 24.6%, with a rise in price in March by 4.3%. Moreover, sunflower oil jumped in price on an annualized basis by 62.2% with a rise in price in March by 8.7%.
Sugar and granulated sugar jumped in price on an annualized basis by 40.9%, while in March it rose by 2.3%.
Dairy products, cheese and eggs rose in price on an annualized basis by 16.5%, and in March alone- by 2.2%. Moreover, the price of eggs jumped by 78.2% on an annualized basis, and only in March - by 8.1%. Fish and seafood rose in price by 2.6% year on year, but in March alone- by 1.6%. Meat products have risen in price in y-o-y terms by 3.4%, and in March alone-by 0.8%. Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes rose in price on an annualized basis by 9.2%, and in March alone- by 1.9%. Moreover, separately, alcoholic beverages rose in price on an annualized basis by 9%, and cigarettes - by 9.6%, but in March alone their rise in price was the same - by 1.9%.
Bakery products and cereals rose in price on an annualized basis by 9.4%, and in March alone - by 0.6%. In particular, bread and flour rose in price on an annualized basis by 8.6% and 14.4%, respectively, and in March alone - by 0.2% and 1.6%.
Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea and cocoa rose 0.7% in March.
On the non-food market in March, prices for detergents increased by 2.9%, clothing - by 2.4%, small household electrical appliances - by 1.7%, large household appliances - by 1.6%, fuels and lubricants - by 1,5%, footwear - by 1.4%, pharmaceutical products and jewelry - by 1.2%, kitchen utensils and utensils - by 1.1%, furniture - by 0.9%, gardening tools - by 0.8 %, carpets and floor coverings - by 0.3%. Gasoline and diesel fuel rose in price in March by 8.2% and 11.2%, respectively, and on an annualized basis, the rise in gasoline prices by 4.9% was accompanied by a similar decrease in the price of diesel fuel (by 4,9%). In January-March 2021, prices for gasoline and diesel fuel increased by 14% and 18.1%, respectively.
As for tariffs for services, the most noticeable increase both in annual terms and in March was recorded in the transport sector - by 8.9% and 1.2%, respectively, as well as in the healthcare sector - by 6.6% and 0, 9% respectively. In the field of education, services rose in price on an annualized basis by 2.1%, while not changing over the reporting month (for March). In the restaurant and hotel business, services rose in price on an annualized basis by 2.5%, and only in March - by 0.1%. In the field of culture and recreation, tariffs for services increased by 1.2% on an annualized basis, and only in March - by 0.9%. In the field of communications, tariffs for services increased on an annualized basis by 1% with an increase in March by 0.2%. Tariffs for services in hairdressing and SPA salons increased by 3.1% in March.
