YEREVAN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia's GDP declined by 9.7% in January-April 2009 on the same period of 2008 and amounted to 638bn 939m drams (more than 1bn 894.4m USD as calculated at the average exchange rate of 337.72 drams against a dollar in January-April). The index-deflator of GDP made 101.8%. According to data of the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production of Armenia declined by 11.1% in January-April 2009 on the same months of last year and made 176bn 967.6m drams. Gross agricultural output fell by 4.1% to 57bn 28.4m drams, construction declined by 42.4% to 51bn 508.5m drams, retail trade grew by 2.5% to 262bn 210.5m drams, and services declined by 0.6% to 261bn 733m drams. The foreign trade of Armenia fell by 30% to 1bn 69.1m USD in January-April 2009 on the same period of last year and amounted to 1bn 69.1m USD, with exports declining by 47.8% to 175.6m USD and imports declining by 25% to 893.5m USD. Consumer prices increased by 2.3%, industrial production prices fell by 5.9% in January-April 2009 on the same months of 2008. The number of officially registered unemployed grew by 6.5% in late April 2009 as compared with the same month of last year and made 81.2 thousand. The average monthly nominal salary made 96,875 drams in January-April 2009 (13.2% growth on the same months of 2008), including 80,937 drams in the state sector (17.9% growth) and 120,427 drams in the non-state sector (7.4% growth). The average exchange rate of a US dollar made 337.27 drams in January-April 2009.

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