Statistical data

In the fourth quarter of 2012 the employment rate for population aged 15 - 64 was 59.4% (by 0.8 percentage points higher than in the fourth quarter of 2011). For the same period the unemployment rate went up by 1.0 percentage point to 12.4%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) at the end of December 2012 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 2.0% as compared to the end of September 2012 and reached 2.09 million. In the fourth quarter of 2012 in comparison with the third quarter of 2012 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 4.6% getting 789 Levs.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute in the fourth quarter of 2012 the number of newly built residential buildings was 692 and compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year decreased by 21.6%.

In December 2012, 1 731 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed places were functioned in the country. In comparison with the previous month the total number of accommodation establishments increased by 4.7% and the bed-places in them - by 7.7%. The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments amounted to 602.0 thousands as 426.4 thousands of them were spent by Bulgarian residents and 175.6 thousands - by foreigners. The total revenues from nights spent in December 2012 reached 27.7 million BGN or by 14.0% more compared to November.

In 2012 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 12.8% compared to the previous year and amounted to 16.9 Billion Levs while the imports grew by 10.8% and added up to 20.6 Billion Levs.
In 2012 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 40.7 Billion Levs and compared to 2011 the exports increased by 2.6% while the total value of all imported goods reached 49.8 Billion Levs and grew by 8.8%.

In the period January - November 2012 the Bulgarian exports to the EU decreased by 3.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2011 and amounted to 22.1 Billion Levs while the imports increased by 8.9% and added up to 27.0 Billion Levs.
In November 2012 the exports to the EU decreased by 2.7% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2.2 Billion Levs while the imports increased by 3.6% and added up to 2.7 Billion Levs.

According to the preliminary data of the NSI, in December 2012 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 10.4% below the level of the previous month.

The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index seasonally adjusted increased by 2.4% in December 2012 as compared to November 2012. The working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 4.1% in comparison with the same month of 2011.

In January 2013 the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 2.3 percentage points compared to its October 2012 level which is due to the increased of confidence among the urban inhabitants. The level of the indicator for the rural inhabitants remains unchanged.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the municipal authorities have issued building permits for construction of 992 residential buildings with 3 162 dwellings, of 48 administrative buildings/offices and 1 379 other buildings. The construction of 601 residential buildings with 2 147 dwellings, of 20 administrative buildings/offices and 531 other buildings has been started.