YEREVAN, AUGUST 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian GDP grew by 10.6% in January-July 2008 on the same period of last year and made 1 trillion 736 billion 187.7 million drams. The GDP index-defaltor made 108%. According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production grew by 1.8% in Armenia in January-July 2008 on the same months of 2007 and made 428 bln 184.9 mln drams. The gross agricultural output increased by 6.9% to 220 bln 610.4 mln drams, construction - by 14% to 356 bln 107.2 mln drams, retail trade - by 6.1% to 500 bln drams, while services grew by 15% to 389 bln 82.9 mln drams. The foreign trade of Armenia grew by 29.5% in January-July 2008 on the same period of 2007 and amounted to 2 bln 920.2 mln USD. Exports declined by 0.2% and made 628.1 mln USD, imports grew by 40.9% to 2 bln 292.1 mln USD. Consumer prices rose by 9.2%, industrial production prices - by 5.8% in January-July 2008 on January-July 2007. The number of officially registered unemployed declined by 8.3% in late July 2008 as compared with late July 2007 and made 76,200. The average monthly salary made 87,908 drams in the first seven months of 2008 (20.4% growth on the same period of 2007), including the salary of employees of the budgetary institutions - 62,253 drams (16.7% growth) and the salary of employees of non-budgetary institutions - 108.679 drams (19.6% growth). The average exchange rate of a US dollar made 306.84 drams in January-July 2008 (this index made 342.08 drams in 2007).

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