Press releases

NSI has published 2023 data on energy indicators Primary energy consumption and Energy dependency, calculated from the Overall Energy Balance of the country.

The Primary energy consumption decreased by 12.49% compared to the previous year, reaching 16 575.950 thousand toe in 2023. The indicator measures the country’s total energy needs, excluding any non-energy use of energy carriers.

The Energy dependency in 2023 increased by 2.61 percentage points – up to 39.72% compared to the previous year. The indicator shows the extent to which a country’s economy depends on imports to meet its energy needs.

Data from previous years can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’, Overall Energy Balance.

In 2023, the energy intensity of the economy decreased by 13.5% compared to the previous year.

The indicator Energy intensity of the economy measures the quantity of energy used for the production of a unit gross domestic product (GDP). The Energy intensity of the economy is calculated on the basis of GDP at average 2010 and 2015 prices in thousand euro.

Data from previous years can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’, Overall Energy Balance.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the newly registered legal entities in the country were 11 143, and those declared bankrupt - 1 165. Compared to the third quarter of 2024, total number of newly registered increased by 4.7%, and that of bankruptcies - by 31.9% Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the total number of newly registered increased by 4.8%, and that of bankruptcies - by 19.2%.

In December 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.4% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in December 2024, compared to December 2023, was 2.2%.

In December 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Recreation and culture’ (+5.9%), ‘Transport’ (+1.3%), ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.7%) and ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ (+0.6%). The highest decrease in the prices was recorded in the groups: ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-1.3%) and ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (-0.6%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.3% and the annual inflation rate was 2.1%.

In November 2024, 2 122 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 60.2 thousand rooms and 124.4 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments increased by 2.7%, and the bed-places in them - by 1.1%.

The total number of nights spent was 944.7 thousand, or 10.5% more in comparison to a year earlier, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 11.2% and reached 472.2 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 84.7 million BGN, or by 22.6% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 5.2% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 27 664.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries increased by 6.4% and added up to 38 230.4 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the section ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (10.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (40.3%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (26.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (3.5%). 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 77 837.9 million BGN in the period January - November 2024, which is 3.2% 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 89 505.3 million BGN and increased by 0.2%.

In the period January - October 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 2.6% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 45 513.9 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 4.5% and amounted to 46 125.8 million BGN.

In October 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 6.8% compared to the same month of 2023 and amounted to 4 923.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU increased by 3.4% and amounted to 5 308.2 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 ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ section (32.2%). The most notable fall was reported in the sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (15.4%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (15.4%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ section (70.4%), while the most notable fall was reported in the ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ section (12.3%). Data are according to the Standard International Trade Classification.

In November 2024, the production index in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 1.8% compared to the previous month. An increase was seen in the production of specialized construction activities - by 3.3%, in the production of civil engineering - by 1.6%, and in the building construction - by 0.6%. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed a rise of 8.6% in the construction production compared to the same month of 2023. Specialized construction activities went up by 11.8%, civil engineering - by 8.8%, and construction of buildings - by 5.9%.

The Industrial Production Index increased by 0.3% in November 2024 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

In November 2024, compared to October 2024 an increase was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 1.2%, in the mining and quarrying industry -
by 0.4%, and in the manufacturing - by 0.2%.

In comparison with November 2023, an increase of 2.8% was reported in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.

On an annual basis, a rise of the Industrial Production Index was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 10.7%, and in the manufacturing - by 4.1%, while a decrease was registered in the mining and quarrying industry - by 5.2%.

In November 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.3% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A growth was reported in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.4%, and in ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.0%. ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ kept the level of the previous month.

The trade turnover rose by 6.8% compared to the same month of 2023 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In November 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase of the turnover was seen in ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 11.0%, and in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 9.1%. А drop was reported in ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 7.9%.