Press releases

In February 2020, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 400.6 thousand or by 1.0% above the registered in February 2019. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in February 2020 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 49.2%, followed by those with professional purpose - 27.8%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - 23.0%.

In February 2020, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 508.0 thousand or by 5.2% more in comparison with February 2019. In February 2020, the predominant share of the visits with holiday and recreation purpose was 42.4%, followed by trips with other purposes - 38.8%, and with professional purpose - 18.8%.

Preliminary data of the NSI for the fourth quarter of 2019 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 11.9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.

In 2019 the unemployment rate was 4.2% by 1.0 percentage point lower in comparison with 2018.

The employment rate for the age group 20 - 64 years achieved 75.0%, by 2.6 percentage points higher compared to 2018.

The consumer price index in February 2020 compared to January 2020 was 100.1%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.1%.

In 2019 the Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 2.9 % compared to 2018 and amounted to 38 779.5 Million BGN while the imports from the EU increased by 3.1% and reached 41 143.0 Million BGN.

In December 2019 the exports to the EU dropped by 4.7 % compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2 548.4 Million BGN while the imports increased by 4.6% and added up to 3 206.5 Million BGN.

In January 2020 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 2.2% compared to the same month of 2019 and amounted to 1 581.5 Million BGN while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 5.4% and added up to 2 158.2 Million BGN.

In January 2020 the total value of all exported goods to third countries and EU amounted to 4 896.1 Million BGN, which is 3.7% more than the same month of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and EU added up to 5 297.6 Million BGN and grew by 4.9%.

In January 2020, 1 963 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed-places were functioned in the country. The total number of the rooms in them was 57.9 thousand and the bed-places were 117.9 thousand. In comparison with January 2019, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 4.9%, and the bed-places in them - by 3.8%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in January 2020 was 1 066.1 thousand, or by 19.8% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in January 2020 reached 60.8 million BGN or by 19.0% more compared to January 2019.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2019 increased by 0.2% in the EU-27 compared to the previous quarter by seasonally adjusted data. For the same period, GDP in Bulgaria increased by 0.8%. 

According to the preliminary data, in January 2020 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 0.8% above the level of the previous month. In January 2020 the working day adjusted index of production in construction increased by 1.7% in comparison with the same month of 2019.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in January 2020 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The working day adjusted turnover rise by 3.2% as compared to the same month of the previous year.