Statistical data

In the third quarter of 2024, 1.8 million Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority of them - 72.3%, travelled only in the country, 20.8% - only abroad, and 6.9% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the number of travelled persons aged 15 and over remains at the same level.

In the third quarter of 2024, the expenditure on acquisition of tangible fixed assets in all sectors of the economy amounted to 7 351 million BGN, which is with 5.1% more compared to the previous quarter. The largest volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was in the ‘Industry’ sector (except construction) - 2.148 million BGN, followed by the ‘Service’ sector (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; Transport, communication and services; Accommodation and food service activities) - with 1 644 million BGN. The data are preliminary.

Detailed data are published on the website of NSI under the heading “Investments”.

The producer price index in Forestry decreased by 11.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year (on an annual basis).

The change is a result of the decrease in both the prices of wood in the rough from coniferous - by 10,9% and from non-coniferous trees - by 11,6%.

A decrease of 9,4% is observed also in the prices of wood in the rough in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Forestry'.

In October 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.1% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in October 2024 compared to October 2023 was 1.8%.

In October 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Recreation and culture’ (+8.6%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+8.2%), ‘Education’ (+1.8%) and ‘Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels’ (+1.1%). A decrease in the prices was recorded in the group ‘Transport’ (-0.3%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.6% and the annual inflation rate was 2.0%.

According to the results from the Labour Force Survey, in the third quarter of 2024:

- The unemployment rate was 3.6%, by 0.4 percentage points lower compared to the third quarter of 2023;

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 increased by 0.2 percentage points in comparison with the same quarter of 2023 and stood at 71.7%;

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 74.4%, by 0.2 percentage points lower compared to the third quarter of 2023.

The data are from the Labour Force Survey - a sample statistical survey. It is carried out over a sample of non-institutional households. Quarterly, through personal interview, about 19.6 thousand households, randomly selected, are observed.

The producer price index in agriculture for the third quarter of 2024 decreased by 1.9% in comparison with the same quarter of 2023 as a result of а decline in the price index of crop output - by 1.4% and in the index of animal output - by 3.9%.

In the third quarter of 2024, compared to the previous year, the prices of agricultural output went down by 7.1%, as in crop output they decreased by 7.6% and in animal output they fell by 5.0%.

In crop output, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of 2023, the most significant drop was recorded in the prices of cereals - by 7.4%. The trend was also retained on an annual basis compared to 2023, with a decrease in cereals - by 14.3%.

In animal output, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of 2023, the prices of live animals went down by 7.9%, while prices for livestock products increased by 0.1%. Compared to 2023 (on an annual basis), a decrease was reported in the prices of live animals - by 4.4% as well as in the prices of animal products - by 5.6%.

The agricultural consumer goods and services price index for the third quarter of 2024 decreased by 1.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 4.3% compared to 2023 (on an annual basis).

The biggest decrease, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023, was recorded in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 3.3%, and of animal feedingstuffs - by 3.9%.

Compared to the previous year, the most significant decline was in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 17.9%, and of animal feedingstuffs - by 6.7%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, GDP had a growth rate of 2.2% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to data from the Household Budget Survey, during the third quarter of 2024 the quarterly total income average per household member was 3 351 BGN and it increased by 16.6% compared to the same quarter of 2023.

The quarterly total expenditure average per household member during the third quarter of 2024 was 3 153 BGN and increased by 16.2% compared to the same quarter of 2023.

In the third quarter of 2024, there were changes in the consumption of basic food products on average per person compared to the same quarter of 2023. The biggest increase was in the consumption of fruit and meat. The consumption of bread and paste products and vegetables decreased.

The number of employees under labour contract at the end of September 2024 decreased by 22.8 thousand, or 1.0%, as compared to the end of June 2024 and reached 2.33 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The highest decrease was observed in the economic activities: ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 11.5%, ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’ - by 3.2%, and ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ - by 2.8%. The highest increase of the number of employees - by 1.2% was recorded in the economic activity ‘Human health and social work activities’.

In the third quarter of 2024, in comparison with the second quarter of 2024, the average monthly wages and salaries decreased by 0.9% and reached 2 275 BGN. The highest decrease in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Public administration and defence; compulsory social security’ - by 3.1%, ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 2.2%, and in ‘Construction’ - by 1.9%.

In September 2024, 3 290 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation, with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 138.8 thousand rooms and 312.2 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments increased by 2.4%, while the bed-places in them decreased by 1.1%.

The total number of nights spent was 3.1 million, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 1.4% and reached 0.9 million.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 249.7 million BGN, or by 14.8% more compared to the same month of the previous year.