YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia's GDP declined 3.7% in January-February 2009 on the same period of last year and made 282 billion 159.7 million drams (about 923.7 million USD calculated at the exchange rate of 305.48 drams per dollar in January-February). The GDP index-deflator made 100.4%. According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production in Armenia fell 9.7% to 83 billion 796.6 million drams in January-February 2009 on the same months of 2008. The gross agricultural output grew 0.1% to 24 billion 206.5 million drams, construction fell 1.5% to 22 billion 144.1 million drams, retail trade grew 5% to 125 billion 804.9 million drams, and services grew 2% to 101 billion 274.7 million drams. The foreign trade of Armenia declined 26.2% in the period under review as compared with January-February 2008 and made 506.5 million USD, with exports falling 44,8% to 79 million USD and exports falling 21.2% to 427.5 million USD. Consumer prices increased 2,5%, industrial production prices fell 9.6% in January-February 2009 on the same period of 2008. The number of officially registered unemployed grew 4.6% as of late February 2009 as compared with the same month of 2008 and made 75.7 thousand. The average monthly nominal salary made 94,685 in the first two months of 2009 (13.8% growth on the same period of last year), including the salary of 80,092 drams in the state sector (18.6% growth) and the salary of 116,204 drams in the nonstate sector (7.1% growth). The average exchange rate of the dollar made 305.48 drams in January-February 2009 (this index made 305.98 drams in 2008).

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