On 31 May 2016 Bulgaria adhered to the Special Data Dissemination Standard - Plus (SDDS Plus) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bulgaria is the eleventh country worldwide to adhere to this highest tier international data dissemination standard. Adhering to this standard is the result of the joint efforts of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the National Statistical Institute, and the Ministry of Finance.
The Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus (SDDS Plus) was established in 2012 building on the SDDS and its purpose is to assist member countries with regard to the publication of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic and financial statistical data in a world of continuing economic and financial integration. In addition to the SDDS requirements, the SDDS Plus emphasizes stronger data dissemination practices to enhance data transparency and help strengthen the international financial system. The data covers 30 data categories, including the 21 SDDS and 9 SDDS Plus data categories that provide coverage for the four sectors of the economy - Real Sector, Fiscal Sector, Financial Sector and External Sector, and it prescribes the periodicity (or frequency) and timeliness with which data for these categories are to be disseminated. Compared to the Special Data Dissemination Standard, additional nine categories are included. These are: Sectoral balance sheets; General government operations; General government gross debt; Other financial corporations survey; Financial soundness indicators; Debt securities; Coordinated portfolio investment survey, Coordinated direct investment survey and Currency composition of official foreign exchange reserves.
SDDS Plus identifies four dimensions and monitorable elements: the Data Coverage, Periodicity and Timeliness; Access by the Public; Integrity, and Quality of the disseminated data.
The Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) plays an important role in the implementation of the SDDS Plus. It provides the public with broad and easy access to subscriber’s data and metadata. The DSBB posts for each SDDS subscriber metadata in the format of the DQAF (Data Quality Assessment Framework). The Framework encompasses several dimensions, elements, and indicators, providing a systematic structure for presenting metadata.
A key element of the DSBB is the Advance Release Calendar (ARC). For each subscriber, the DSBB presents an ARC showing release dates for data categories prescribed by the SDDS Plus for at least a four-month period (current month and the following three months).
The National Summary Data Page (NSDP) is posted on the website of the Bulgarian National Bank and includes indicators (categories) related to the four sectors of the national. An indicator for Population is also included in the page.
The statistical data for Bulgaria are compiled by the National Statistical Institute, the Bulgarian National Bank, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. The Bulgarian National Bank as the SDDS Plus coordinator for Bulgaria maintains the National Summary Data Page.
