How much better has our life truly become?

The difference between propaganda about a better and more prosperous life for citizens and reality is more than obvious. This can be seen both in daily surveys among ordinary citizens and in facts based on official statistics. In this context, one clear indicator is the rising cost of essential goods.

So, the average consumer price index in June of this year increased by 3.9% compared to June of last year. Prices in January-June increased by 3.1% compared to January-June 2024. This means that in June of this year, we paid 3.9% more for consumer goods. So, how much more did our lives cost in the first six months of this year? The answer is that in June of this year, we paid 1.5% more for consumer goods compared to December. At the same time, the above figures are cumulative and averaged. For individual products, the picture is more revealing.

For example, the 12-month inflation rate for bakery products was 3.5% in June. The prices of flour increased by 7.1%, pasta by 5.3%, sunflower oil by 17.5%, and butter by 14%. As we can see, the prices of these and other basic food items have risen at a significant rate.

This wave of price increases is accompanied by state narratives claiming “we are living better,” but the real verdict comes from the citizens of Armenia.

Instead, we are seeing continued strengthening of the dram against foreign currencies, which brings its own consequences: a worsening environment for exports and unresolved inflation (despite a slight dip from May). Once again, we are left to ask—how much better has life truly become?