According to the preliminary data, in August 2017 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 0.9% above the level of the previous month. In August 2017 the working day adjusted index of production in construction increased by 9.0% in comparison with the same month of 2016.
According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in August 2017 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month.
According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, increased by 0.4% in August 2017 as compared to July 2017. In August 2017 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 4.9% in comparison with the same month of 2016.
In July 2017 compared to June 2017 an increase is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 3.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 10.0%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 1.9% and electricity - by 12.1%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the production of transport diesel - by 0.4% and natural gas - by 16.7%.
In July 2017 compared to June 2017 an increase is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.7% and electricity - by 6.1%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases - by 8.3%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 28.8%, transport diesel - by 10.8% and natural gas - by 16.9%.
Total Producer Price Index in August 2017 increased by 0.7% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2016 the prices rose by 5.8%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in August 2017 increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2016 the domestic prices grew by 5.9%.
In September 2017, the total business climate indicator decreases by 0.8 percentage points in comparison with August which is due to the more unfavourable business climate in construction, retail trade and service sector. Only in industry, an increase of the indicator compared to the previous month is observed.
In August 2017, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 680.4 thousand or by 15.2% above the registered in August 2017. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in August 2017 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.6%, followed by the trips with holiday and recreation purpose - 42.9%, and with professional purpose - 12.5%.
In August 2017, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 2 125.1 thousand or by 10.8% more in comparison with August 2016. An increase was registered in the trips by all observed purposes: with other purposes - by 19.7%, with holiday and recreation purpose - by 6.4%, and with professional purpose - by 3.0%.
In 2015, Bulgaria spent 15 811.6 million BGN for social protection. Тo finance social protection in the country, 8 036.5 million BGN were allocated from the state budget while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 8 610.5 million BGN.
Preliminary data of the NSI for the second quarter of 2017 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 11.0% compared to the second quarter of 2016.