Statistical data

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.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 3.5% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 22 536.2 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries increased by 7.5% and added up to 31 067.5 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the section ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (10.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (37.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (26.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (6.1%). The data are according to the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 63 156.4 million BGN in the period January - September 2024, which is 3.6% less than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 71 973.3 million BGN and dropped by 0.1%.

In the period January - August 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 3.4% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 36 269.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 5.6% and amounted to 36 374.7 million BGN.

In August 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 2.4% compared to the same month of 2023 and amounted to 4 286.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 10.6% and amounted to 4 011.0 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same month of 2023 was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (36.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Food and live animals’ (18.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (42.9%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (12.3%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Industrial Production Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Industrial Production Index went up by 1.2% in September 2024 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

In September 2024, compared to the previous month, a rise was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 24.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 9.8%, while a decrease was registered in the manufacturing - by 1.3%.

In comparison with September 2023, an increase of 1.0% was reported in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.

On an annual basis, a growth of the Industrial Production Index was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 30.9%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 13.0%, while a decrease was registered in the manufacturing - by 1.9%.