YEREVAN, JUNE 21, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-May 2006, Armenia's GDP made 566 bln 577.5 mln drams (about 1 bln 263 mln USD), exceeding by 10.5% the respective index of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service, GDP index-deflator made 1.8%. In January-April 2006, the total amount of industrial production made 242 bln 235.4 mln drams, declining by 1.9% compared with the same period of last year, that without diamond production - 240 bln 877.8 mln drams, growing by 1.3%. The gross agricultural output amounted to 84 bln 56.8 mln drams, increasing by 1.8% on January-April 2005, while construction amounted to 104 bln 524.4 mln drams, growing by 41.7%. In January-May 2006, the Armenian foreign trade made 1 bln 107.4 mln USD or by 9.7% more than in the same period of last year. These indices without diamond trade made 919.8 mln USD and 19.2%. Exports amounted to 339.1 mln USD, declining by 4.6%, exports without diamonds - to 248.8 mln USD, growing by 2.2%. Imports made 768.3 mln USD, growing by 17.4%, imports without diamonds - 671 mln USD, growing by 27%. Retail trade amounted to 261 bln 389.9 mln drams, exceding the respective index of last year by 13.5%, the services delivered - to 164 bln 540.6 mln drams, growing by 18.2%. The concumer price index made up 99.3% in January-May 2006 compared with the same period of last year, the index of manufacturers' prices - 95.5%. In January-May 2006, the average monthly salary made 58,745 drams in Armenia or by 20.2% more than in the same months of last year. These indices with respect to employees of the budget sector made 41,632 drams and 24.8%, and employees of non-budget organizations - 71,721 drams and 16.9%. The monetary incomes of the population made 555 bln 137.3 mln drams or by 17% more, the monetary expenditures - 564 bln 616.9 mln drams or by 20.2% more. The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar made 448.51 drams in January-May 2006 compared with 457.69 drams in January-December 2005.

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