AVERAGE CONSUMER CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY BOOKS – EXPERT
Tert.am
02.03.12
An average consumer in Armenia uses 60% of his or her income to
purchase food and spends the rest of the money on public utilities
and other services, which means affording to buy books or go to the
theatre is out of the question, the president of the Consumers’ Union,
NGO has said.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Armen Poghosyan expressed doubts
whether such budget can ensure a dignified life for people.
For comparison, he brought examples from different countries, including
Israel and the European states.
“If a family spends more than 25% [of its income] on food, that’s
the poverty line. Such families are immediately involved in a social
welfare program,” he said.
Addressing the situation on Armenia’s market, Poghosyan noted that
the general prices on products rose by 4%-5% last year, with the
prices of food being 14%, and sometimes – 20%-25% up.
The activeness on the food market, according to him, is marked by peaks
and falls, with speculation being a general trend. The expert noted
further that the causes of price surge are sometimes unknown even to
them, given that such processes are accompanied by manipulations. But
speaking of the 20% on bakery products in Gyumri, he said he is more
inclined to attribute that to whether conditions.