YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006, Armenia's GDP made 1 trlillion 720 billion 63 million drams (about 4 billion USD), exceeding by 12.5% the respective index of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, GDP index-deflator made 105.1%. The industrial production made 468 bln 10.6 mln drams, declining by 1.6% on the same pertiod of last year, that without diamond production - 465 bln 902.8 mln drams, growing by 1.5%. The gross agricultural output made 370 bln 568 mln drams, remaining unchanged compared with January-September 2005, and construction volume amounted to 393 bln 803 mln drams, growing by 39.6%. In January-September 2006, Armenia's foreign trade made 2 bln 208.2 mln USD or by 12.1% more than in the same period of last year. The same indices without diamond trade made 1 bln 861 mln USD and 19.5%. Exports made 699.4 mln USD, declining by 0.9%, exports without diamonds - 522.4 mln USD, growing by 3.4%. Imports made 1 bln 508.7 mln USD, growing by 19.4%, imports without diamonds - 1 bln 338.6 mln USD, grwoing by 27.3%. Retail trade amounted to 536 bln 273.5 mln drams, or by 10.9% more than in the same period of last year, while services - to 338 bln 472.5 mln drams, or by 22% more. The consumer price index made up 102% in January-September 2006 on the same months of 2005, the index of prices of manufacturers' production - 97.2%. The average monthly nominal salary in January-September 2006 made 61.320 thousand drams, growing by 22.1% on the same months of last year. The same indices with respect to employees of budgetary institutions made 42.684 thousand drams and 22.6%, with respect to employees of non-budgetary institutions - 75.074 thousand drams and 20.5%. Monetary incomes of the population made 1 trillion 142 billion 572.2 million drams, growing by 19.8%, monetary expenditures - 1 trillion 114 billion 915.6 million drams, growing by 20.3%. The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar was 430.04 drams in January-September 2006 compared with 457.69 drams in January-December of last year.

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