Statistical data

In March 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.6% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decline in turnover was reported in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 1.6% and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.5%. Аn increase was observed in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.2%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 1.1% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was seen in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (12.3%) and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (1.7%), while in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ was reported a decrease (1.8%).

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 0.8% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of building construction rose by 1.0% and the production of civil engineering - by 0.5%.

Compared to March 2022, the index of production in construction went up by 0.3%. An increase was registered in building construction - by 2.4%, while in civil engineering, a decrease of 2.5% was seen.

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute in the first quarter of 2023, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 289, and the newly built dwellings in them were 4 427. Compared to the first quarter of 2022, the buildings were by 18 more (or by 1.4%), and the newly built dwellings in them decreased by 153, or by 3.3%.

In April 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 4.2 percentage points in comparison with January. An increase of consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants - by 3.1 and 7.0 percentage points, respectively, is reported.

As of 31 December 2022, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is administratively divided into 28 administrative districts and 265 municipalities, within which there are 3 159 individual mayoralties. Total number of settlements were 5 256, of which 257 towns and 4 999 villages, while the settlement formations were 165 (including 8 of national and 157 of local importance). The largest municipalities with population above 100 000 inhabitants were eight - Stolichna, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Sliven, Pleven and Pazardzhik. The share of the population in these eight municipalities represents 40.7% of the total country’s population.

In the first quarter of 2023, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 1 748 residential buildings with 8 619 dwellings, 19 administrative buildings/offices and 1 035 other buildings.

The issued building permits for new residential buildings and other buildings decreased by 5.5% and 3.4% respectively as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The issued building permits for administrative buildings have shown an increase of 5.6%.

The construction of 1 272 residential buildings with 6 597 dwellings, 8 administrative buildings/offices and 517 other buildings was started.

The number of started new residential buildings increased by 0.2% as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The number of started administrative buildings and other buildings decreased by 27.3% and 9.6% respectively.

According to the Demography statistics, the population of the country as of the end of 2022 is 6 447 710 persons. Compared to the previous year, it has decreased by 34 774 persons, or by 0.5%.

There are 56 596 live born children in 2022. The number of live births decreases by 2 082 compared to the previous year.

The number of deaths in 2022 is 118 814, and the crude mortality rate - 18.4‰. Compared to the previous year, the number of deaths decreases by 30 181.

The number of minors and juveniles registered in the Child pedagogic rooms for anti-social acts and crimes committed in 2022 was 8 626. In comparison with 2021, their number decreased by 181, or by 2.1%.

The number of minors and juveniles new entrants in the Child pedagogic rooms in 2022 was 2 677, and 2 513 persons were removed from the Child pedagogic rooms.

In April 2023, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.7 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. An improvement of the indicator is registered in the industry, while in the construction and service sector, a reduction is observed. Only in the retail trade, the indicator preserves its March level.

The uncertain economic environment remains the main difficulty for the activity of the enterprises in all sectors.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 2.2% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 9.3%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.1%. The prices went up in the manufacturing by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 2.6% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 7.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.9%. The prices increased in the manufacturing by 1.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 2.0% in March 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Significant growth was seen in the manufacturing by 6.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.7%. Prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 7.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 2.5% compared to March 2022. Prices rose in manufacturing by 10.2% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.6%, while in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply the prices fell by 6.9%.