Press releases

In June 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.4% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

An increase was reported in all major groups: ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 1.9%, ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 1.0% and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.9%.

The trade turnover increased by 4.3% compared to the same month of 2023 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In June 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase in turnover was registered in the ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 9.7% and in the ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 5.7%. А decrease was reported in the ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 11.1%.

The total production index in Services of the business economy in May 2024 decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to May 2023, an increase of 3.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted index according to preliminary data.

For June 2024, revenues of subsector ‘Central Government’ were reported in the amount of BGN 4 772.74 million and expenditures - BGN 5 524.98 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 642.34 million, and the expenditures were BGN 2 580.08 million.

The data for the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data for 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 2024, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 1 935 residential buildings with 10 271 dwellings, 16 administrative buildings/offices and 1 173 other buildings.

The issued building permits for new residential buildings and other buildings decreased by 4.9% and 14.6% respectively as compared to the second quarter of 2023. There was a 14.3% increase in the number of building permits issued for administrative buildings.

The construction of 1 703 residential buildings with 8 814 dwellings, 14 administrative buildings/offices and 664 other buildings has started.

As compared to the second quarter of 2023, the number of started new residential buildings and other buildings increased by 12.4% and 7.1% respectively. The number of started administrative buildings decreased by 39.1%.

The National Statistical Institute published revised quarterly and annual data on employment and unemployment from the Labour Force Survey in 2021. The revision of data stemmed from the revision of data on the population of the country, based on Population Census 2021, which were used in the estimation of the results of the survey. For the employment and unemployment rates, the difference is 0.6 percentage points for the employment rate and 0.1 percentage point for the unemployment rate, respectively.

Revised data for 2022 were published in October 2023.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Labour Market', Labour Force Survey.

In July 2024, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.5 percentage points compared to the previous month. A reduction of the indicator is observed in industry, construction and retail trade, and in service sector preserves approximately its June level.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, insufficient demand and costs of materials continue to be the main factors limiting the business development in the sectors.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 0.4% in June 2024 compared to the previous month. Drop of 2.2% was registered in the mining and quarrying industry, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.6%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.2%. 

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went down by 0.9% in June 2024 compared to May 2024. The domestic prices decreased in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 2.8%, while in the manufacturing industry increased - by 0.1%, the mining and quarrying industry kept the level of the previous month.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 0.3% in June 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a considerable decline of the prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 10.7%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 11.0%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 2.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 2.8% compared to June 2023. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 11.1%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 11.3%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 1.1%.

In May 2024, compared to April 2024, for the production of energy products no increase is observed in any of the products. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 36.6%, electricity - by 19.8%, motor gasoline - by 9.9%, and transport diesel - by 2.3%. There is no change in the production of natural gas and liquefied petroleum gases.

Compared to May 2023, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 83.3%, transport diesel - by 19.7%, and electricity - by 1.8%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 58.5%, and motor gasoline - by 2.0%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In May 2024, compared to April 2024, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 83.7%, transport diesel - by 26.0%, and electricity - by 1.0%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 34.1%, and natural gas - by 0.5%. There is no change in the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases.

Compared to May 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 71.7%, natural gas - by 36.0%, and transport diesel - by 4.8%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 48.1%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 16.3%, and electricity - by 1.8%.

In 2023, the number of serviced passengers at the airports increased by 19.5% in comparison with 2022 and reached 10 841 217, while the volume of processed goods declined by 17.1% to 22 178 tonnes.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Annual Business Statistics’.

In 2023, the volume of loaded and unloaded goods at river harbours amounted to 3 439 thousand tonnes, which was a 9.6% decrease compared to 2022.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Annual Business Statistics’.