ArmInfo. Armenian trade sector in January-February 2022 increased revenue by 8.2% per annum (against an 11.3% decline in the same period in 2021), providing a volume of 489.5 billion drams (over $1 billion). According to the RA Statistical Committee, in February 2022 alone, the trade turnover in Armenia increased by 11.9% - up to 258.6 billion drams ($538.6 million).
The upward trend in the trade sector in January-February 2022 was determined by the growth in wholesale and retail trade turnover, as well as the volume of car sales. In particular, the wholesale trade revenue in January-February 2022 increased by 10.2% (against 7.6% decline a year earlier), amounting to 251.8 billion drams ($523.4 million). The retail trade turnover for the reporting period increased by 1.5% (against a 13% decline a year earlier), amounting to 216 billion drams ($449.3 million).
The volume of purchase / sale of cars in January-February 2022 increased significantly - by 85% (against a 36% decline a year earlier), amounting to 21.4 billion drams ($44.6 million).
In the structure of retail trade, the largest turnover is provided by stores (including supermarkets) - 78.8% or 170.5 billion drams (with a y-o-y growth of 3.9%), other retail facilities - 14% or 30.2 billion drams (with a y-y decline of 4.6%), followed by markets for consumer goods - 4.7% or 10.1 billion (with a y-o-y decline of 10.7%), kiosks - 1.6% or 3.4 billion (with a y-o-y a decline of 7.8%), and agricultural markets - 0.9% or 1.9 billion (with a y-o-y decline of 8%). In the structure of the total trade turnover of Armenia, wholesale trade dominates - 51.4%, followed by retail - 44.2%, and the share of purchase / sale of cars accounts for 4.4%. It should be noted that the average settlement rate of the dram in January-February 2022 was 481.12 AMD/$1, and in February 2022 - 480.24 AMD/$1.