Press releases

In September 2023, the total business climate indicator preserves approximately its August level. A reduction of the indicator is observed in the service sector, while in the industry and construction preserves its level from the previous month. Only in the retail trade, an increase is registered.

The main obstacles to the activity of the enterprises in sectors are the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch and costs of materials.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 0.2% in August 2023 compared to the previous month. An increase of 1.2% was registered in the manufacturing industry, while in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply prices fell by 2.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.2%. 

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market remained unchanged in August 2023 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices decreased in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 2.8%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.6%, while in the manufacturing industry prices rose by 2.0%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 20.4% in August 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. There was a considerable decline in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - 51.9%, while the mining and quarrying industry marked a rise of 3.0%, and the manufacturing industry - 0.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 27.2% compared to August 2022. Lower prices were reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 51.5%, and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 4.1%, while the prices in the manufacturing industry rose by 1.3%.

In August 2023, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 834.3 thousand, or 12.0% above the registered in August 2022.

The trips with holiday and recreation purpose composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 47.4%, followed by those with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) - 39.1%, and with professional purpose - 13.5%.

Тhe number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 2 077.6 thousand, or 9.5% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The predominant share of the visits was with holiday and recreation purpose - 50.5%, followed by trips with other purposes - 44.4%, and with professional purpose - 5.1%.

Transit passes through the country were 39.3% (815.9 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In July 2023, compared to June 2023, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 71.4%, motor gasoline - by 26.1%, electricity - by 13.2%, and transport diesel - by 10.1%. A decrease is reported for the production of liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.0%. No change for the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of motor gasoline - by 4.3%. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 50.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 40.0%, electricity - by 20.2%, and transport diesel - by 9.2%. No change for the production of natural gas.

In July 2023, compared to June 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 95.5%, motor gasoline - by 53.3%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 52.9%, natural gas - by 23.4%, transport diesel - by 16.7%, and electricity - by 15.5%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 91.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 33.3%, transport diesel - by 26.8%, and electricity - by 1.6%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 44.3%, and natural gas - by 5.3%.

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’.

The total export price index during the second quarter of 2023 decreased by 34.5 percentage points to 94.8% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period dropped by 25.0 percentage points up to 94.8% compared to the same period of 2022.         

Price indices of exports and imports by sectors of the Standard Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading ‘Еxports-and-imports-price-indices’.

The total export price index decreased by 8.1 percentage points to 125.9% during 2022 compared to 2021.

The total import price index for 2022 dropped by 4.9 percentage points up to 119.3% compared to 2021.

Price indices of exports and imports by sectors of the Standard Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading ‘Еxports-and-imports-price-indices’.

The housing prices were increased by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The highest increase was recorded in Varna (+7.9%), followed by Plovdiv (+6.8%) and Sofia (+4.9%). The decrease was registered in Stara Zagora (-2.2%) and Burgas (-1.1%).

In the second quarter of 2023, compared to the second quarter of 2022, the housing prices rose by 10.7%.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Housing price statistics'.

In the second quarter of 2023, compared to the second quarter of 2022, the total hourly labour cost rose by 13.8% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 19.3% in industry, 13.7% in services and 16.1% in construction.

The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 24.0%, ‘Manufacturing’ - by 20.1%, and ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ - by 18.3%.

In 2021, Bulgaria spent 25 415.8 million BGN for social protection benefits. Тo financing social protection in the country, 13 896.9 million BGN were allocated from the state budget, while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 15 117.8 million BGN.

In 2021, the social protection benefits by function are:

• ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ - 7 420.7 million BGN;
• ‘Disability’ - 2 186.5 million BGN;
• ‘Old age’ - 11 289.1 million BGN;
• ‘Survivors’ - 1 253.1 million BGN;
• ‘Family/Children’ - 2 161.3 million BGN;
• ‘Unemployment’ - 701.2 million BGN;
• ‘Жилищни нужди’ - 0.62 million BGN;
• ‘Social exclusion n.e.c.’ - 403.3 million BGN.

The ‘Old age’ function with its major component expenditure for pensions had the highest share (44.4%) in total expenditure. The ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ and ‘Disability’ functions also had a significant share of total expenditure - 29.2% and 8.6%, respectively.

More information and data on receipts and expenditure for social protection can be found on the website of NSI, section ‘Social protection’ and on the Information System ‘Infostat’.