Press releases

NSI publishes final data on wholesale sales of consumer goods, retail sales and retail sales premises for 2023.

The non-financial enterprises in Bulgaria realized wholesale sales (incl. VAT and excise taxes) of 85 673 million BGN, of which 60.4% were from durable and other consumer goods and 39.6% - from food, beverages and tobacco products. Compared to the previous year, the volume of wholesale sales increased by 4.2%.

The retail sales (incl. VAT and excise duties) amounted to 71 905 million BGN, with durable and other consumer goods dominating with a share of 62.9%. Compared to 2022, the volume of retail sales increased by 10.5%.

In 2023, there were 156 186 retail sales premises operating in the country. The largest share have Shops and pavilions - 68.2%, followed by: Non-stationary premises for delivery of goods (incl. vending machines) - 15.8%, Warehouses for retail sales - 10.1%, Stalls and markets in the stationary trade network - 4.1%, Petrol stations and gas stations - 1.8%.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Domestic Trade'.

In September 2024, compared to August 2024, an increase was reported in the production of solid fuels - by 17.7%. A decrease was reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 30.8%, motor gasoline - by 13.3%, electricity - by 6.0%, and transport diesel - by 5.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to September 2023, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 12.5%, solid fuels - by 3.5%, transport diesel - by 0.8%, and electricity - by 0.7%. A decrease is reported in the production of motor gasoline - by 17.3%. There is no change in the production of natural gas. 

In September 2024, compared to August 2024, an increase was reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 15.5%, natural gas - by 3.3%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 2.8%. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 33.3%, motor gasoline - by 27.1%, and electricity - by 10.9%.

Compared to September 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: natural gas - by 6.1%, solid fuels - by 2.2%, and electricity - by 1.9%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.9%, transport diesel - by 13.8%, and motor gasoline - by 1.9%.

In 2023, compared to 2022, the total energy supply in the country decreased by 12.14% to 16 998.357 thousand tons of oil equivalent.

Final energy consumption in the country decreased by 3.42% in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 9 520.082 thousand tons of oil equivalent. The transport sector has the largest share in the final energy consumption, which in 2023 was 37.06% or 3 527.768 thousand tons of oil equivalent.

Detailed data on the Overall Energy Balance of the country are published on the NSI website under the heading “Energy”.

The primary production from renewables in the country decreased by 5.59% to 2 643.949 thousand tons of oil equivalent in 2023 compared to 2022.

The final energy consumption of renewables in the country decreased by 10.08% to 1 327.301 thousand tons of oil equivalent in 2023 compared to the previous year. ‘Households’ sector has the largest share in final energy consumption, which in 2023 was 45.04% or 597.853 thousand tons of oil equivalent.

Detailed data on the Renewables are published on the NSI website under the heading “Energy”.

In November 2024, the total business climate indicator preserves its October level. An improvement of the indicator is registered in the industry, in the retail trade remains on its level from the previous month, and in construction and in service sector a decrease is observed.

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

In October 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 720.9 thousand, or 3.9% above the registered in October 2023. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: holiday and recreation - by 7.4%, professional - by 4.8%, and with other purposes - by 0.3%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 953.1 thousand, or 6.0% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: holiday and recreation - by 12.9%, professional - by 4.7%, and with other purposes - by 1.6%. Transit passes through the country were 36.5% (347.5 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In the third quarter of 2024, the goods carried by freight land and water transport dropped by 28.1% and the transport performance - by 22.7% in comparison with the same quarter of 2023. The data are preliminary.

The number of passengers carried by passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) increased by 16.9% as did the transport performance, which recorded a 9.7% rise.

In the third quarter of 2024, compared to the same period of the previous year:

• The goods carried by land transported were 29.0% less and the transport performance decreased by 24.6%;
• The inland waterway and maritime transport carried 63.6 thousand tonnes more goods, whereas the performance, measured in tonne-kilometers, marked a 103.5% rise;
• The number of passengers carried by land transport rose by 10.4%, as did the performance - by 5.9%;
• The water passenger transport marked a decline of 8.7 thousand passengers and the performance fell by 3.9%;
• The urban electric transport enterprises carried 16.3 thousand passengers more, while the performance also increased by 38.3%.

In the third quarter of 2024, 1.8 million Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority of them - 72.3%, travelled only in the country, 20.8% - only abroad, and 6.9% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the number of travelled persons aged 15 and over remains at the same level.

In the third quarter of 2024, the expenditure on acquisition of tangible fixed assets in all sectors of the economy amounted to 7 351 million BGN, which is with 5.1% more compared to the previous quarter. The largest volume of investments in tangible fixed assets was in the ‘Industry’ sector (except construction) - 2.148 million BGN, followed by the ‘Service’ sector (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; Transport, communication and services; Accommodation and food service activities) - with 1 644 million BGN. The data are preliminary.

Detailed data are published on the website of NSI under the heading “Investments”.

The producer price index in Forestry decreased by 11.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year (on an annual basis).

The change is a result of the decrease in both the prices of wood in the rough from coniferous - by 10,9% and from non-coniferous trees - by 11,6%.

A decrease of 9,4% is observed also in the prices of wood in the rough in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Forestry'.