YEREVAN. - According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), world prices for food, including wheat continue to fall.

Whereas in Armenia, despite worldwide trends, prices are going up. Thus, in April, food product prices rose by 4,7 per cent at an annual rate.

Interestingly enough, prices in Armenia rise on the background of ‘positive’ changes in agriculture and food and pharmaceutical industries. According to the official data, cattle breeding product industry rose by 3,5 per cent in January-March, crop farming (i.e. the greenhouse production) going up by 28,9 per cent. The figures suggest a better situation with milk and milk products. Thus, cheese production increased by 3,5 per cent, milk production – by 3,5 per cent and sour-cream by 2,2 times (!). However, meat product prices have grown by 6,9 per cent at the average, milk product prices going up by 7,8 per cent.

Despite the fall in world prices, sugar prices in Armenia have gone up by 4,5 per cent.  Cereal products are now 7,3 per cent more expensive at the average than a year ago.

In April, mainly fruits and vegetables of the previous season are offered on the market. According to the official data, vegetable and potato prices have lowered by 13,8 per cent, fruit prices going up by 23,7 per cent.

Collisions on the currency market resulted in curious repercussions. US dollar adjustment brought about significant fall in the prices of most goods, equivalent to that currency. Thus, food products (including alcohol and tobacco) have become 8 per cent cheaper at an annual rate; meat product prices came down by 6,5 per cent, while vegetables and potato prices have reduced by quarter.

However, not all currencies are ‘lucky.’ Those possessing Russian rоubles оr Euros will face an unpleasant surprise. By April, the rate of these currencies has dropped by 23,1 and 10,7 per cent respectively.