The Cost of the Consumer Basket Exceeds the Minimum Wage

The newspaper "Joghovurd" reports. "In Armenia, the cost of the consumer basket has significantly increased on a monthly basis. "Joghovurd" learned that the value of the minimum consumer basket, based on current average prices for the second quarter of this year, amounted to 82,198 drams per month, while for the first quarter, it was 76,299 drams per month. The cost of the food basket reached 44,431 drams monthly.

"Joghovurd" calculated the prices for essential food products. For example, according to the Statistical Committee, the cost of food consumed in one month, per adult, amounted to only 44,431 drams. This amount includes items such as bread, meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, oil and fat, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, sugar, non-alcoholic beverages, and other foodstuffs.

For instance, the actual daily consumption per capita includes 461 grams of bread products, 48.3 grams of meat, 18.6 grams of eggs, and so on. The price of 100 grams of beef in supermarkets and shops in Yerevan exceeds 330-400 drams, while 100 grams of the fish species “Ishkhan” costs more than 300 drams. Two eggs can go up to 80 drams, while the price for 90-100 grams of bread starts at 150 drams.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the minimum pension in our republic is about 30,000 drams, and the minimum wage is 68,000 drams. In this situation, people are unable to afford even the minimum food requirements. Therefore, it turns out that the value of the consumer basket exceeds the minimum wage level.

Full article available in today's edition of the newspaper.