Statistical data

The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index decreased by 9.1% in February 2010 as compared to February 2009, as compared to the previous month the production decreased by 2.9%. Industrial Turnover Index decreased by 5.1% compared to February 2009, as compared to the previous month the turnover increased by 1.3%.

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in February 2010 fell by 0.2% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2009 the domestic prices increased by 2.5%. Total Producer Price Index in Industry remained at the same level over the previous month; compared to the same month of 2009 the prices increased by 4.1%.

In March 2010 the NSI business surveys register a decrease in the level of the total business climate indicator of 0.9 percentage points in comparison with February. The indicator decreases in all of the sectors with the exception of the service sector, as the highest drop is recorded in retail trade.

In February 2010 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents in abroad was 240.3 thousand, which was 23.0% less than the number of the trips in February 2009. In February 2010, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 273.2 thousand or 1.3% more than the number of trips in the same month of 2009.

Preliminary data for fourth quarter of 2009 indicated that total hourly labour cost rose by 7.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

In 2009 the employment rate (15-64) dropped by 1.4 percentage points in comparison with 2008 and achieved 62.6%. For the same period the number of unemployed went up by 19.2%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, the construction production in January 2010 was 30.7% less compared to the same month of the previous year.

The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index decreased by 0.9% in January 2010 as compared to January 2009, as compared to the previous month the production decreased by 14.7%. Industrial Turnover Index decreased by 2.8% compared to January 2009, as compared to the previous month the turnover fall by 18.1%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, in the fourth quarter of 2009 the newly built residential buildings were 962 compared to the previous quarter of 2009 and registered a significant increase of 40.4%, as newly build dwellings in them was with 1 190 more and their number reached 6 404.