YEREVAN. – The purchasing power of Armenia’s population continues to decline, and this bespeaks a deepening poverty in the country. This can be seen even in the official indicators issued by the Armenian National Statistical Service (NSS), Haykakan Zhamanak daily reported.  

“According to the bulletin which the NSS issued yesterday [i.e. Monday], the trade volumes dropped by 1.7 percent in January this year, as compared to January last year.

“A 1.7-percent decline would not have been terrible in itself, had there not been a very important factor. Trade volumes had already fallen by 7.5 percent in January last year. 

“It is noteworthy that all through the year past, the purchasing power of the population was decreasing against the backdrop of the impressive growth, by official statistics, in virtually all sectors of the economy.

“It is the same picture in the first month of this year. A supposed growth is recorded in all sectors of the economy, even the average salary has increased, yet people [in Armenia] are still getting poorer,” Haykakan Zhamanak wrote.