Statistical data

The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index increased by 0.4% in May 2010 as compared to the same month of 2009, as compared to the previous month the production fell by 0.9%. Industrial Turnover Index increased by 12.7% compared to May 2009, as compared to the previous month the turnover rose by 1.0%

In 2009 the government budget appropriations or outlays on R&D (GBAORD) amounted to 230.4 million BGN which is 8.5 % more than the previous year.

Nearly a quarter of the Bulgarian enterprises (23.9%) have been fulfilled innovation activity over the period 2006 - 2008.

In 2008 the total expenditure amount to 0.49% of GDP, which is only 0.01 percentage points higher than the previous year.

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in May 2010 increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2009 the domestic prices rose by 5.8%. Total Producer Price Index in Industry increased by 1.7% compared to the previous month, compared to the same month of 2009 the prices rose by 9.1%.

In June 2010 the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.2 percentage points in comparison with May due to the worsening of the business climate in industry, construction and service sector.

In May 2010 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents in abroad was 324.8 thousand, which was 34.1% less than the number of the trips in May 2009. In May 2010, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 593.0 thousand or 6.2 more than the number of trips in the same month of 2009.

Preliminary data for first quarter of 2010 indicated that total hourly labour cost rose by 9.4% compared to the first quarter of 2009.

In 2009 the housing fund in Bulgaria consisted of 2 136 thousand buildings and increased by 0.1% in comparison with 2009. Total in the country were registered 3 789 thousand dwellings, 63.8% of them were located in the towns and 32.6% in the villages.