ArmInfo. In Armenia, the industrial price index increased significantly in January-May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, from 102.1% to 108.9%.
This was observed against the backdrop of improved annual growth in the industrial sector, with a 12.2% increase from a 14.1% decline, reaching 1.3 trillion drams ($3.4 billion). This is according to preliminary data from the RA Statistics Committee.
A similar increase in the industrial price index was observed in May 2026 compared to May 2025 - from 102.2% to 109%. During this period, the industrial sector also experienced a 9.5% increase (compared to a 5.9% decline a year ago).
It is noteworthy that inflation was recorded in the Armenian consumer market during these periods. Specifically, in January-May 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, inflation was 4.5%, and in May 2026 compared to May 2025, inflation was 4.2%, compared to 3% and 4.3%, respectively, in the same periods a year ago. Moreover, consumer price inflation was primarily driven by rising food prices: by 7.3% in January-May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, and by 6.5% in May 2026 compared to May 2025, a trend that was also observed during the same periods a year earlier, when food prices increased by 5% and 7.2%, respectively. At the same time, services continue to rise in price - by a consistent 2.7% in January-May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025 and in May 2026 compared to May 2025, compared to similar rates a year ago - 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively.
It is worth noting that this is accompanied by an acceleration in economic activity growth in Armenia in January-May 2026 from 5.7% to 8% per annum, and in May 2026. by May 2025 - an acceleration of growth from 10.4% to 11.7%. At the same time, a weakening of the decline in foreign trade turnover is observed: in January-May 2026 - from 49% to 0.1% per annum, and in May 2026 compared to May 2025 - from 28.8% to 5.3%. In particular, in January-May 2026, the decline in exports slowed down from 57.4% to 3.7% per annum, while import dynamics went from a 42% decline to 2.2% growth, and in May 2026, compared to May 2025, the decline in exports and imports slowed from 39.3-20.4% to 11.5-1.6%. (The average exchange rate of the dram in January-May 2026 was 375.53 drams/$1, compared to 392.72 drams/$1 a year ago).
