Statistical data

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 9.5% compared to the period January - August 2022 and amounted to 19 316.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 18.9% and added up to 25 387.9 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - August 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (15.6%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (12.3%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (38.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Food and live animals’ (17.5%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (16.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (38.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 56 841.6 million BGN in the period January - August 2023, which is 7.6% 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 63 877.1 million BGN and dropped by 8.8%.

The value of the final output produced in agriculture for 2022 amounted to 12 901.9 million BGN (at current prices), which was 19.2% more than the previous year. The increase was due to the price growth - by 29.8%, while in volumes of production, a decrease was observed - by 8.2%.

The value of the goods and services currently consumed in agriculture amounted to 6 988.7 million BGN, which was 24.5% higher than the previous year. The increase was due to the rise in prices - by 32.6%, while volumes registered a decrease - by 6.1%.

The gross value added produced in agriculture was equal to 5 913.2 million BGN (at basic prices). It was 13.5% more than the previous year. The increase was due to the significant growht in prices - by 26.7%, while there is a decrease in volumes by 10.4% on an annual basis.

The net operating surplus/mixed income in agriculture amounted to 5 743.4 million BGN and was 16.0% higher compared to the previous year. The increase was a result of the growth of gross value added produced in agriculture compared to the previous year.

The net entrepreneurial income in agriculture amounted to 3 194.2 million BGN and decreased by 2.5% compared to the previous year.

Gross fixed capital formation in agriculture was equal to 1 164 million BGN and compared to the previous year increased by 21.2%. The bigger part of it - 1 078.6 million BGN (92.6%), represented gross fixed capital formation in non-agricultural products (agricultural machinery, equipment and vehicles, and in buildings).

In August 2023, 3 703 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 148.3 thousand rooms and 338.1 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with August 2022, the accommodation establishments increased by 2.2% and the bed-places in them - by 1.9%.

The total number of nights spent was 6 329.6 thousand, or by 2.9% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year, and the number of arrivals increased by 3.9% and reached 1 540.5 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 522.6 million BGN, or by 15.8% more compared to a year before.

In August 2023, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 0.3% compared to the previous month. The production of building construction rose by 0.5% and the production of civil engineering remained unchanged. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed a decrease of 0.5% in construction production compared to the same month of 2022. A decrease was registered in civil engineering - by 3.6%, while in building construction, an increase of 1.9% was seen.

In August 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A drop was registered in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 0.5% and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 0.2%, while in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ was observed an increase - by 1.8%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover was unchanged compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was noted in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (5.6%). A decrease was registered in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ (2.8%) and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (1.8%).

The Industrial Production Index increased by 1.3% in August 2023 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A growth was seen in the mining and quarrying industry - by 5.5%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 1.6%, and in the manufacturing - by 1.5%.

In August 2023, a decrease of 9.7% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to August 2022, a drop was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 40.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 12.1%, and in the manufacturing - by 1.9%.

For the period September 4th - October 1st 2023, dead persons in Bulgaria are 6 527 and they are 1 130 less than during the same period in 2022. The data on deaths in Bulgaria for period (36th – 39th week) and by week are available at the following links:

Mortality | Infostat (infostat.nsi.bg)

Deaths in Bulgaria by weeks | National statistical institute (nsi.bg)

In August 2023, revenues of the subsector ‘Central Govermnent’ were reported in the amount of BGN 3 683.4 million and expenses - BGN 4 400.04 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 551.7 million, and the costs are BGN 2 504.9 million.

The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In the second quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.9% compared to the second quarter of 2022.

In July 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 3.2 percentage points compared to April 2023.

During the second quarter of 2023, 72.0% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.

The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP in the second quarter of 2023 is 17.6%.

The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 52.9%.

The unemployment rate was 4.6% (compared to 4.5% in the second quarter of 2022), the same for men and women.

In the second quarter of 2023 compared to the second quarter of 2022 the total hourly labour cost rose by 13.8% (preliminary data).

In the second quarter of 2023, the house price index increased by 10.7% compared to the same quarter of 2022.

In the period January - June 2023, the electricity and natural gas prices, including all taxes, levies and VAT (including state compensations) for non-household customers decreased compared to the period July - December 2022. The largest decrease in electricity was recorded in group I7 with annual consumption over 150 000 MWh (24.3%), and in natural gas in group I5 with annual consumption between 1 000 000 and 4 000 000 GJ (51.7%).

There was also a decrease in the electricity and natural gas prices, including all taxes, levies and VAT for household customers, compared to the previous six-month period. The largest decrease in electricity was recorded in group D5 – the biggest consumers (1.8%), and in natural gas in group D1 – the smallest consumers (28.9%).

Data are representative for the country - all suppliers of electricity/natural gas provide data on household and final non-household customers, for the quantities delivered through transmission/distribution network. They are calculated as weighted average prices by the actual delivered quantities of electricity/natural gas and the corresponding invoiced values to final customers, by standard annual consumption bands,  for the observed six-month period.

The information is published pursuant to REGULATION (EU) 2016/1952 on European statistics on natural gas and electricity prices.

Detailed data on electricity and natural gas prices are published on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’.