Statistical data

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in April 2018 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.9% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 2.0% in April 2018 as compared to March 2018. In April 2018 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index went down by 0.8% in comparison with the same month 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 0.9%.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased by 2.3% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2018 is 3.6% compared with the same quarter of 2017 according to the preliminary estimates.

In March 2018 compared to February 2018 an increase is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 6.5% and electricity - by 4.9%. Significant drop is observed in the production of petroleum products, which is due to planned repair of production capacities done in March 2018, as a decrease is reported for the production of unleaded motor gasoline - by 99.2% and transport diesel - by 87.0%. No production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In March 2018 compared to February 2018 an increase is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 22.9%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 16.7%, and transport diesel - by 22.4%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of natural gas - by 5.9% and electricity - by 0.9%.

Total Producer Price Index in April 2018 increases with 0.7% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the prices rose by 2.9%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in April 2018 increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the domestic prices grew by 3.8%.

In May 2018, the business conjuncture in the country continues to improve. The total business climate indicator increases by 2.1 percentage points compared to April and reaches new long-term maximum (33.1%) since 2009.

The producer price index in agriculture in the first quarter of 2018 decreased by 7.4% in comparison with the same quarter of 2017. The crop output index decreased by 11.2%, as well the animal output index - by 1.2%. In comparison with previous year the prices of agricultural output went down by 1.5% due to the decrease in crop output price index - by 3.1% and increase in animal output price index - by 1.2%.

The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the first quarter of 2018 was by 0.6% higher compared to the same quarter of previous year and by 0.8% compared to 2017.

In April 2018, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 606.4 thousand or by 10.5% above the registered in April 2017. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in April 2018 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 41.9%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 30.1%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 28.0%.

In April 2018, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 701.9 thousand or by 10.8% more in comparison with April 2017. In April 2018, the predominant share of the visits with other purposes was 40.1%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purpose - 39.4%, and with professional purpose - 20.5%.