By Smbat Grigoryan

YEREVAN. – According to official data, retail trade in Armenia reduced by 5.7 percent in January, on an annual basis.

The respective first signs, however, had emerged two years ago.

Even according to official data, the volume of retail trade in the country is teeny, in terms of per capita. In 2015, this indicator was Armenian drams equivalent to approximately US$78; this is the average amount. But it is known that despite various crises, the income of “the rich” keeps growing.

Again according to official data, there is deflation in Armenia. The prices of goods fell by an average of 0.4 percent in January. The country’s population has started spending less money to buy goods, since its cash income has reduced due to the drop in remittances from abroad.