Press releases

In May 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was -0.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in May 2024 compared to May 2023 was 2.3%.

In May 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest decrease was registered in the following groups: ‘Communications’ (-1.5%), ‘Recreation and culture’ (-1.0%), ‘Transport’ (-0.9%) and ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (-0.5%). The highest increase in the prices was recorded in the groups: ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (+1.0%), ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.6%), ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+0.6%) and ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ (+0.6%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.0% and the annual inflation rate was 2.7%.

In April 2024, 2 267 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 68.5 thousand rooms and 143.6 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the accommodation establishments increased by 1.3% and the bed-places in them decreased by 0.5%.

The total number of nights spent was 1 012.4 thousand, or 2.0% less in comparison to a year earlier, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 2.3% and reached 481.9 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 85.6 million BGN, or by 11.6% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

Dear users, due to a technical issue with Information system ‘Foreign trade’ when computing the data for the period January - April 2024, it was necessary to update the information.

Thank you for your understanding and we would like to apologize for the inconvenience.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 4.9% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 9 795.9 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries increased by 0.9% and added up to 12 798.1 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (13.6%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Food and live animals’ (25.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (44.6%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (6.3%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 27 476.0 million BGN in the period January - April 2024, which is 5.9% 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 31 817.2 million BGN and dropped by 1.1%.

Dear users, due to a technical issue with Information system ‘Foreign trade’ when computing the data for the period January - March 2024, it was necessary to update the information.

Thank you for your understanding and we would like to apologize for the inconvenience.

In the period January - March 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 11.7% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 12 909.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 6.7% and amounted to 13 908.0 million BGN.

In March 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 9.9% compared to the same month of 2023 and amounted to 4 572.7 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 14.4% and amounted to 4 695.0 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 section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (12.6%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (45.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (78.7%), while the most notable fall was reported in the sector ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (19.4%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The Industrial Production Index increased by 3.3% in April 2024 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

In April 2024, compared to the previous month, a growth was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 13.8%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 4.2%, and in the manufacturing - by 0.9%.

In comparison with April 2023, a decrease of 0.3% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.

On an annual basis, a drop of the Industrial Production Index was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 7.7%, and in the manufacturing - by 1.9%, while the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply increased - by 10.6%.

In April 2024, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous month. A decrease was seen in the civil engineering - by 1.3%, in the production of specialized construction activities - by 0.7%, and in the production of building construction - by 0.3%. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed an increase of 2.8% in the construction production compared to the same month of 2023. A rise was registered in the specialized construction activities - by 6.9%, and in the civil engineering - by 2.4%. In the building construction, a decrease of 0.2% was observed.

In the first quarter of 2024, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.8% compared to the first quarter of 2023 and there is an increase of 0.4% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 at seasonally adjusted data.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 1.2% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

As of 31 December 2023, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is 110 996.76 sq. km. According to the types of durable land use (specific purpose of use) of the land properties, the largest area is occupied by agricultural areas - 54.5% and forest areas - 33.3% of the total area of the country. Urbanized areas cover nearly 5 279.4 sq. km or 4.8% of the country's territory. The average population density in the country is 58.1 persons per sq. km.

The National Statistical Institute publishes information on the land use distribution in the Republic of Bulgaria as of 31 December 2023, based on spatial data from the cadastral map of the country. The results are available by territorial units for statistical purposes (NUTS) and administrative-territorial units. In addition, information on population density on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is also provided.

In April 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.9% 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 6.8%, ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.3% and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.2%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 9.9% compared to April 2023.

In April 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase in turnover was registered in the ‚Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 14.8% and in the ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 11.1%. А decrease was reported in the ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’  - by 9.6%.