Statistical data

In the third quarter of 2024:

• Тhe Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.4% compared to the third quarter of 2023.
• 65.6% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.
• The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP was 17.4%.
• The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.8%.
• The unemployment rate was 3.6% (compared to 4.0% in the third quarter of 2023), 3.8% for men and 3.4% for women, respectively.
• Compared to the third quarter of 2023, the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.8% (preliminary data).
• Compared to the third quarter of 2023, housing prices increased by 16.5%.

In October 2024, the total consumer confidence decreased by 3.8 percentage points in comparison with July 2024 level.

In December 2024, the total business climate indicator increases by 1.7 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. An increase of the indicator is observed in the industry, retail trade and in the service sector. Only in the construction a reduction is registered.

The main problems for the activity in the sectors remain the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch and costs of materials.

Since July 2024, NSI has started publishing Producer Prices Indices in Industry by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 2.9% in November 2024 compared to the previous month. An increase of 11.7% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, in the manufacturing industry - by 0.2%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 0.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 4.9% in November 2024 compared to October 2024. The domestic prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply grew by 13.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 0.5%, in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went up by 1.1% compared to the same month in 2023. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry -
by 25.2%, as well as in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%. There was a price reduction in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 2.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 1.0% compared to November 2023. The prices went up in the mining and quarrying industry - by 14.9%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.4%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.1%.

In October 2024, compared to September 2024, for the production of energy products no increase was observed in any of the products. A decrease was reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 22.2%, solid fuels - by 18.2%, electricity - by 8.4%, transport diesel - by 3.1%, and motor gasoline - by 0.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to October 2023, an increase is reported in the production of electricity - by 4.2%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 40.1%, motor gasoline - by 27.2%, and transport diesel - by 9.3%. There is no change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas.

In October 2024, compared to September 2024, an increase was reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 31.9%, natural gas - by 15.3%, electricity - by 11.0%, motor gasoline - by 9.8%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 5.4%. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of solid fuels - by 11.4%.

Compared to October 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 21.7%, natural gas - by 14.7%, transport diesel - by 8.3%, and electricity - by 7.7%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 35.5%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.3%.

In November 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 638.6 thousand, or 11.3% above the registered in November 2023. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 711.9 thousand, or 2.5% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase was registered in the trips with professional purposes - by 9.3%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - by 7.7%, while those with other purposes decreased by 2.7%. Transit passes through the country were 37.8% (269.4 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

From 2024, NSI started publishing quarterly Services Producer Price Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The total producer price index in Services of the business economy increased by 0.9% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter and by 4.4% in comparison to the same quarter of 2023.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Short-term Business Statistics’.

The housing prices increased by 3.9% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter (second quarter of 2024). The highest increase was recorded in Sofia (+5.4%), followed by Varna (+5.3%), Stara Zagora (+4.3%) and Burgas (+4.2%). A decrease was registered in Ruse (-5.9%).

In the third quarter of 2024, compared to the third quarter of 2023, the housing prices rose by 16.5%.

Detailed data are published on NSI’s website under the heading 'Housing price statistics'.

The total export price index during the third quarter of 2024 is 95.4%, which is an increase of 4.8 percentage points in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period is 96.6%, which is 2.4 percentage points above the level of the index compared to the same period of 2023.

Preliminary data on export and import price indices for the third quarter of 2024 by sectors of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Exports and imports price indices'.

In 2023 the liabilities of public corporations under Directive 2011/85 EU amount to 9.32% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), of which 0.84% are liabilities of financial enterprises and 8.48% are liabilities of enterprises with an activity other than financial.

Data on liabilities of public corporations are derived from the annual reports on the activity of enterprises, which are submitted to BNSI in accordance with the Law on Statistics. The scope covers public corporations, which are classified in the sectors ‘Non-financial corporations’, ‘Financial corporations’ and ‘Non-profit institutions serving households’, but are controlled by the sector General Government and its subsectors.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In 2022, compared to 2021, there was an increase in emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) by 14%, carbon dioxide (CO2) by 9%, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) by 2% and ammonia (NH3) by 1%. The main contribution to the increase in SOx and CO2 emissions was made by economic activities from the sectors "Manufacturing" and "Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply". In 2022, compared to 2021 a decrease is observed in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 17%, particulate matter (PM10) by 14%, particulate matter (PM2.5) by 12%, CO2 Biomass by 10%, nitrous oxide (N2O) by 2% and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 1%. There is no change in methane (CH4) emissions compared to 2021.

NSI has published data on Air Emission Accounts in accordance with Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts. Air Emission Accounts present data on emissions of seven substances, air pollutants (harmful substances): sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), particulate matter up to 10µm (PM10), particulate matter up to 2.5µm (PM2.5) and seven greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2 and CO2 biomass), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), partially halogenated and perfluorinated hydrocarbons (HFCs and PFCs), as well as sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). The air emission accounts include emissions from economic activities of local units and households, both within and outside the national territory, in compliance with the residence principle. The data are presented by specific economic sectors of the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev.2).

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website in the "Environment" section, Air Emission Accounts.