By Samvel Avagyan

Short-term rise in food prices is typical of every New Year holidays. However, this rise is not normally registered by official statistics.

The RA Statistical Service has released information on inflation last December, which, however, does not reflect the New Year price rise. Specifically, according to the official information, a 3.7% rise in food prices was registered in Armenia last December against last November, which is far from being true. Striking evidence of the information being false is the information on egg price. An 8.6% official rise in egg price was registered, whereas consumers had to “put up with” a nearly 100% price rise.

A 17.6% rise in meat prices was registered last December as compared with December 2009, with a 2.4% rise registered as compared with November 2010. The highest price rise was registered in Dilijan. A 2.7% rise in meat prices was registered in Yerevan. Last December the meat market was stable, but the real price rise was higher than 2.4%. Specifically, fleshy beef was sold at 3,300 AMD per kilo – a 10% rise as compared with last November.

A 21.1% rise in prices for dairy products was officially registered last December as compared with December 2009, with a 2% price rise registered as compared with last November. The main reason for the price rise was a 2.2% rise in the price for matsoun (fermented milk), 2.2% rise in the price for Cheddar, 2.3% rise in the price for milk and 4.2% rise in the price for home-made cheese. It is noteworthy that the official statistical data are based on Cheddar rather than the most consumed Lori cheese, which showed the highest price rise.