YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-October 2006, Armenia's GDP made 2 trillion 31 billion drams (about 5.42 bln USD), exceeding by 13% the respective index of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the GDP index-deflator made 104.8%. The industrial production amounted to 523 bln 619.6 mln drams in January-October 2006, declining by 0.9% on the same period of 2005, the industrial production with diamond production made 521 bln 247.7 mln drams, growing by 1.7%. The gross agricultural output made 465 bln 520 mln drams, growing by 0.1% on January-October of last year. Construction amounted to 458 bln 605.7 mln drams, growing by 38.8%. In the period under review, Armenia's foreign trade made 2 bln 536.2 mln USD, exceeding by 14.3% the respective index of last year. The same indices without diamonds made 2 bln 144.2 mln USD and 20% respectively. Exports made 810.9 mln USD, growing by 2.3%, exports without diamomds - 605.8 mln USD, growing by 5.4%. Imports made 1 bln 725.2 mln USD, growing by 20.9%, imports without diamonds - 1 bln 538.4 mln USD, growing by 28.8%. Retail trade amounted to 607 bln 577 mln drams, exceeding by 10.3% the index of the same period of last year, services made 382 bln 340.5 mln drams, or by 22.4% more. The consumer price index made 102.5% and the index of manufacturers' production prices - 96.9% in January-October of this year. The average monthly salary made 61,917 drams in Armenia in January-October 2006, exceeding by 22.5% the index of the same months of last year. These indices with respect to employees of budgetary institutions made 43,721 drams and 25.2%, with respect to employees of non-budgetary institutions - 75,335 drams and 20% respectively. The monetary incomes of the population made 1 trillion 360 billion drams or by 19.7% more, while monetary expenditures - 1 trillion 695 billion drams or by 20% more. The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar made 425.17 drams in January-October 2006 compared with 457.69 drams in January-December of last year.

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