Food Prices Fall By 0.1% In Armenia In November 2008

FOOD PRICES FALL BY 0.1% IN ARMENIA IN NOVEMBER 2008

Noyan Tapan

Dec 1, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.1% fall in prices of food
commodities was recorded in Armenia in November on October 2008, which
was mainly conditioned by a 4.3% fall in prices of bread products.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, a 12.2% growth in
prices of bread products was recorded in Armenia in November 2008 on
November 2007, and a 4.3% fall in November on October 2008, which was
mainly due to a fall in prices of flour (6.4%) and high-quality bread
(5.6%). Prices of some types of bread, macaroni, buckwheat, rice,
pea, lavash and grain fell by 0.8-2.5% in the indicated period.

There was a 0.2% fall of prices in the commodity group of meat products
in November on October 2008 and a 9.2% growth of prices in November
2008 on November 2007. Prices of mutton and beef declined by 2.6%
and 1.3% respectively, while pork prices grew by 0.4% in November on
October 2008.

Prices of other foodstuffs, coffee, tea, cocoa fell by 0.1-0.3%
in November on October 2008.

There was a 8.1% inflation in the commodity group of vegetables and
potato in November on October 2008, and a 7.6% fall of prices in
November 2008 on November 2007. A growth was recorded in prices
of tomato (1.6fold), cucumber (1.6fold), green pepper (44.5%),
egg-plant (31.6%), green beans (8.8%), cabbage (7.1%) and potato
(6.6%) in November on October 2008. Prices of cauliflower, carrot,
onion, beet and garlic fell by 3.4-25.9% in the indicated period.

In the commodity group of fruit, there was a 5.5% inflation in
November on October 2008 and a 12.1% fall of prices in November 2008
on November 2007. There was a growth in prices of pear (4.1%), apple
(4.1%), pomegranate (5.2%), grapes (31.1%), peach (44.9%), watermelon
(50.1%) and melon (55.9%) in November on October 2008. Prices of
tangerine, blood orange, orange, lemon, and banana fell by 1.8-22.1%
in the indicated period.

Prices of fish products rose by 12% in Armenia in November on October
2008. 2,5% inflation was registered in the commodity group of butter
and vegetable oil in the indicated period, mainly due to a 10% growth
of prices of melted butter. Prices of corn oil grew by 0.9%, those
of butter, sunflower and olive oil fell by 0.7-1.3% in November on
October of this year.

The average republican price of eggs grew by 2.5% in November on
October 2008. Prices of dairy products grew by 2% in the same period
due to a 4.4-7.7% rise in prices of matsun, yoghurt, curds and fresh
milk. Prices of dairy products grew by 3.6% in November 2008 on
November 2007.

0.1-0.5% inflation was recorded in the commodity groups of
confectionery, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, soft drinks, and
granulated sugar in November on October 2008.