Source: The National Statistics Office                  June 16, 2010

All figures are for the period January-May 2010, unless otherwise mentioned. All comparisons are with the period January-May, 2009, again unless otherwise mentioned.

Consumer price index

The national consumer price index in May rose 3.2 percent against April, 13.1 percent against the end of last year, and 11.6 per cent against May 2009.
The rise was mainly because of a 6.4 percent increase in the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Unemployment

The number of unemployed people was 135,100 in the first quarter of 2010.  This was 12.2 percent of the working age population. There were 76,300 men in the total.
The number of registered unemployed was 38,701 at the end of May, showing a 0.2 percent drop.

Budget, tax collection

The general government budget (GGB) showed a deficit of MNT 169.8 billion, MNT 22.0 billion less than in the same period last year. The current account presented a surplus of MNT 55.9 billion. Tax revenue rose 71.0 percent. Income from the windfall profits tax rose 5.8 times, from corporate income tax 2.1 percent, and from value added tax 67.7 percent.
Non-tax revenue decreased by 14.5 percent. Revenues from budget entities went up 65.0 percent. Capital expenditure altogether rose 72.2 percent, but foreign-financed capital expenditure dropped 87.4 per cent.
Foreign trade

Total turnover of trade with 120 countries reached USD2,039.8 million, registering an increase of 58.5 percent.  Exports rose 66.9 percent and imports 51.3 percent. The trade balance showed a deficit of USD60.2 million, USD41.0 million or 40.6 per cent less than in the corresponding period in 2009.
Mineral products, natural or cultured stones, precious metals, jewelry and textiles and textile articles accounted for 92.4 per cent of the total export value.

Industrial output

Total industrial output increased (at 2005 constant prices) 12.2 percent in the first five months of 2010.
Freight, passenger traffiic

Export freight rose 27.6 percent, domestic freight 12.9 percent, and import freight 32.0 percent in the first five months of this year. However, transit freight was 6.3 percent less.  Passenger traffic also rose, and the railway revenue was 26.8 percent more.
The number of people flying increased 32.6 percent and the volume of freight carried by air was up 29.2 percent. Total revenue from air transport increased 8.5 percent.
Construction

Domestic entities accounted for 71.3 percent of the construction and installation work in the first 5 months of 2010.
Stock trading

Altogether 6.4 million shares were traded for MNT 1.5 billion in 21 trading days in May. The number of shares traded increased 10.0 percent against April, but was 6.4 percent less than in May, 2009.

Social insurance

Of the 440,300 people registered in social insurance schemes in the first five months of 2010, 40.2 per cent were from government institutions, while the rest were private sector employees.  Of the total amount allocated for pensions, retirement benefits accounted for 72.9 percent, allowances for the disabled for 12.9 percent, payment to families without a breadwinner for 7.5 percent, and military pensions for 6.7 percent of the total amount.
The number of people receiving social welfare pensions and benefits dropped by 86.7 percent and the amount paid was 61.8 percent less.
Altogether MNT 162.3 billion were given to 2.3 million people from the Human Development Fund.

Household accounts

Average household income in the first quarter of 2010 stood at MNT393,000, rising by MNT48,300 or 14.0 percent over the previous year. Average household expenses were MNT378,000, an increase of MNT 22,400 or 6.3 percent.