Statistical data

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased by 3.2% in 2018 compared to the previous year.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2018 is 3.2% compared with the same quarter of 2017.

In December 2018 compared to November 2018 an increase is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 12.9%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 6.4%, natural gas - by 50.0% and electricity - by 7.0%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the production of liquefied petroleum gases - by 10.0%. No change for the production of transport diesel.

In December 2018 compared to November 2018 an increase is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 13.0%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 39.4%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 18.5%, natural gas - by 30.8% and electricity - by 18.5%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of transport diesel - by 11.2%.

Total Producer Price Index in January 2019 decreased with 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2018 the prices rose by 1.4%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in January 2019 increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2018 the domestic prices grew by 2.1%.

In February 2019, the total business climate indicator remains to its level from the previous month. An improvement of the business conjuncture is observed in construction and service sector, while in retail trade preserves approximately its January level. Only in industry, the indicator is reduced.

In 2017, regional GDP per capita, expressed in terms of purchasing power standards, ranged from 31% of the European Union (EU) average in the Bulgarian region of North-West, to 626% of the average in Inner London - West in the United Kingdom.

This information is taken from data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

According to preliminary data during the fourth quarter of 2018 in comparison with the same period of 2017 there was a decrease both in the goods carried and in the transport performance by the freight land and water transport.

In the fourth quarter of 2018 the transported passengers and the transport performance by passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) decreased compared to the same period of the previous year, respectively by 3.5% and 4.7%.

In January 2019, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 402.3 thousand or by 3.8% above the registered in January 2018. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in January 2019 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 48.4%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 25.9%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 25.7%.

In January 2019, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 554.3 thousand or by 1.9% more in comparison with January 2018. In January 2019, the predominant share of the visits with holiday and recreation purpose was 43.2%, followed by trips with other purposes - 39.1%, and with professional purpose - 17.7%.

According to the preliminary data for the fourth quarter of 2018 the total turnover index in section ‘Transportation, storage and post’, calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data increased by 1.9% compared to the third quarter of 2018. In section ‘Information and communication’ the turnover index grew by 1.7%.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, 1 095.4 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (84.1%) of them travelled only within the country, 14.5% - only abroad and 1.4% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2017 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over decreased by 17.6%.