0.6% Price Rise On Armenia’s Food Market In Apr 2008

0.6% PRICE RISE ON ARMENIA’S FOOD MARKET IN APR 2008

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. A 0.6% rise in foodstuff prices was recorded
in Armenia in April as compared with March. The RA Statistical Service
reports that 15.4% annual inflation (April 2008 against April 2007)
was recorded on the foodstuff market, with 7.8% inflation recorded
since the beginning of the year.

In April 0.2%-5.6% inflation was recorded in 6 out of 13 product
groups.

The highest, 6%, rise in the prices for bread, flour and vegetable
oil was recorded, with their impact on inflation being 0.8pct and
their share in the consumer basket 13.91%.

Bakery goods prices rose by 5.6% in April, with the annual rise being
41.3%, mainly due to a 5.9% rise in the price for first-grade flour
and a 9.2% rise in the price for extra quality flour. As a result,
a 5.6% rise in the price for first class bread and 7.3% rise in price
for pasta were recorded in April.

In all 11 cities under review prices for bakery goods rose by 3.6-7.9%
with maximum rise recorded in Talin. A 6.0% rise was recorded in
Yerevan this April.

A 38.5% annual rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded this April, with a 4.6% rise recorded in April as compared
with March 2008.

In April butter and vegetable oil prices rose by 6.3% and 5.7%
respectively.

A 0.8%-6.9% rise in the prices for animal and vegetable fats was
recorded in all the cities involved in the survey, with maximum rise
recorded in Artashat. A 5.3% rise was recorded in Yerevan.

The prices for coffee, tea and cacao showed a 4.6% rise, mainly due
to a rise in the price for black ground coffee. A 1.1-11% rise was
recorded in all the cities, with maximum rise recorded in Vagharshapat
and a 3.4% rise in Yerevan.

Meat products showed a 2% price rise in April as compared with March,
mainly due to a 9.1% rise in the price for pork and a 3.7% rise in
price for beef.

Prices for mutton fell by 4.2%.

This product group showed a 0.2-3.1% average price rise in eight
cities, with maximum price rise recorded in Armenia’s capital. A
1.1-0.1% rise in the prices for meat products was recorded in the
rest three cities.

A 1.3% rise in the average prices for eggs was recorded in April,
with a 1.9-5.3% rise recorded in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Artashat. An
8.3-0.3% rise in the prices for eggs was recorded in four cities,
with no price changes recorded in the other four cities as compared
to March.

A 0.1% and 0.2% rise in the price for alcoholic drinks, tobacco and
soft drinks was recorded in April as compared with March.

A 9.6% fall in the price for fish products was recorded in Armenia
this April as compared with February, mainly due to 14.9% and 10.3%
fall in the price for smoked and fresh whitefish respectively. Fish
prices fell by 17.4-1.8% in nine cities under review with maximum fall
recorded in Vanadzor. On the other hand, a 1.7% rise in the price for
fish products was recorded in Talin, with no price changes recorded
in Yeghegnadzor.

A 7.2% fall in the price for vegetables and potatoes was recorded
this April as compared with last April, with a 14% fall recorded as
compared with this March. The prices for the following products fell:
31% for greens, 28.9% for spring onions, 21.2% for cucumbers, 12.9%
for potatoes, 12.7% for cabbage, 11.7% for tomatoes, 9.4% for beet,
4.4% for carrots and 3.1% for garlic.

This group showed 21-2.9% fall in the price, with maximum fall recorded
in Artashat. Prices for vegetables and potatoes fell by 15% in Yerevan.

A 2.3% rise in the fruit prices was recorded in Armenia this April
as compared with last April.

Prices for apples, grapes and pears fell by 11.4-0.4%.

A 3.9-7.9% rise was recorded in prices for tangerine, lemons, bananas
and oranges.

Fruit prices fell by 5.6-1.1% in five cities of Armenia with maximum
fall recorded in Martuni. Fruit prices rose by 0.2-5.4% in the rest
five cities of the country; with no price changes in Vanadzor.

A 0.1% fall in the prices for sugar, diary products and confectionery
was recorded this April.