Statistical data

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in February 2018 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept level of the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 1.5% in February 2018 as compared to January 2018. In February 2018 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index went down by 1.0% in comparison with the same month of 2017.

In January 2018 compared to December 2017 an increase is reported for the production of electricity by 0.5%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 4.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 1.2%, and transport diesel - by 9.2%. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In January 2018 compared to December 2017 an increase is reported for the deliveries of unleaded motor gasoline - by 3.1%, natural gas - by 7.1% and electricity - by 9.2%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.9%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 21.4%, and transport diesel - by 25.3%.

Total Producer Price Index in February 2018 decreases with 0.6% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the prices rose by 2.3%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in February 2018 decreases by 0.5% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the domestic prices grew by 4.4%.

In March 2018, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.7 percentage points compared to February. An improvement of the business conjuncture is registered in construction and retail trade, while in industry preserves to its level from the previous month. Only in service sector, the indicator is reduced.

In February 2018, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 379.5 thousand or by 3.5% above the registered in February 2017. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in February 2018 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 49.7%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 27.6%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 22.7%.

In February 2018, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 457.4 thousand or by 4.9% more in comparison with February 2017. In February 2018, the predominant share of the visits with holiday and recreation purpose was 42.2%, followed by trips with other purposes - 37.7%, and with professional purpose - 20.1%.

In 2018 Bulgaria publishes for the first time data on pension entitlements in social insurance for 2015. The accrued-to-date liabilities at the beginning of 2015 (closing balance of 2014) are 144 145 mln. BGN and the accrued-to-date liabilities at the end of 2015 are 149 879 mln. BGN or 169% of GDP.

Preliminary data of the NSI for the fourth quarter of 2017 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.

In 2017 the unemployment rate was 6.2%, 6.4% for men and 5.9% for women.

The employment rate for the age group 20 - 64 years achieved 71.3%, 75.3% for men and 67.3% for women.