In the first quarter of 2018, 1 002.0 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (84.2%) of them travelled only within the country, 13.2% - only abroad and 2.6% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2017 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over increased by 8.2%.
The number of operating community clubs as of 31.12.2017 in Republic of Bulgaria was 3 321, from which 663 (20.0%) in urban and 2 658 (80.0%) in rural areas. In comparison to 2012 the number of community clubs had increased with 246. The register members were 272 797 and in comparison to 2012 there was observed an increase with 34 593 or with 14.5%.
The total income average per household member during the first quarter of 2018 is 1 407 BGN and increases by 9.8% compared to the same quarter of 2017.
The total expenditure average per household member during the first quarter of 2018 is 1 263 BGN and increases by 11.5% in comparison to the same quarter of 2017.
The consumption of main food products average per household member changes during the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter of 2017.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 0.4% in the EU-28 compared to the previous quarter by seasonally adjusted data. For the same period GDP in Bulgaria increased by 0.8%.
According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2018 is 3.5% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
In the first quarter of 2018 the unemployment rate was 5.7% and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 71.1%.
The consumer price index in April 2018 compared to March 2018 was 100.4%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.4%.
According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of March 2018 the number of employees under labour contract increased by 1.5% as compared to the end of December 2017 and reached 2.31 million.
In the first quarter of 2018 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2017 the average monthly wages and salaries decreased by 1.6% getting 1 077 BGN.
In the period January - February 2018 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 16.5% compared to the same period of 2017 and amounted to 5 780.2 Million BGN while the imports grew by 12.3% and added up to 6 145.1 Million BGN.
In February 2018 the exports to the EU increased by 6.4% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2 685.9 Million BGN while the imports grew by 3.5% and added up to 2 918.8 Million BGN.