At a press conference on July 9, Head of the Price Statistics and International Comparisons, RA Statistical Service, Gurgen Martirosyan, tried to explain the accuracy of official statements in the price rise in Armenia.

Thus, the RA Statistical Service reported a 16% fall in egg prices over the last two months, whereas the prices have fallen by a much higher percentage. According to Martirosyan, the price of one big egg is 40 AMD. Producers have to resort to price dumping because of overproduction.

The official report on an 8.8% fall in the fruit prices has been criticized as well, as this year’s fruit market is unusually expensive.

Martirosyan explained it by seasonal factors: fruit prices are allegedly high in June. Last June, the average apricot price was 1,150 AMD per 1kg, registering a sharp fall down to 250 AMD this July. This year, apricot prices showed a 7.1% rise. However, Martirosyan claims a different picture can be expected this July.

The RA Statistical Service conducts monitoring 619 product items (13 commodity groups). A 4.5% price rise was registered this June as compared with last December, and a 5.8% rise was registered as compared with last June.