The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) has released the composite indices based on the polls of businessmen and households. The indices are helpful in assessing the present economic situation and making forecasts.

Indices have mostly shown a rise since last year, which is considered a crisis one. However, two of the three indices have fallen as compared with the 2nd quarter of this year, which, on the threshold of budget discussions, can be regarded as mistrust of the Government’s policy of containment.

The economic activity index – organizations’ demand and supply expectations – is 105.8% as compared with last year and 106% as compared with last quarter.

The business environment index – organizations’ risk and economic situation assessments – has shown a rise as compared with last year (104.5%), has fallen as compared with last quarter (98.3%).

The Consumer Confidence Index has shown a rise as compared with last year (102.3%), and a fall as compared with last quarter (97.2%). Consumers gave explicitly negative answers to questions concerning the future conditions, which mainly accounted for the lower index.

The respondents hold most pessimistic expectations about the construction sector. The sector’s economic activity index was 8.2% as compared with last quarter.