The producer price index in Forestry decreased by 5.9% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year.
The change is a result of the decrease in both the prices of wood in the rough from coniferous - by 4.6% and non-coniferous trees - by 6.8%.
Compared to the same quarter of 2023, a decrease of 9.4% is observed in the prices of wood in the rough.
Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Forestry'.
In April 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was -0.3% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in April 2024 compared to April 2023 was 2.4%.
In April 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest decrease was registered in ‘Recreation and culture’ (-5.9%), ‘Communications’ (-2.1%) and ‘Health’ (-1.2%). The increase was recorded in the prices for ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+6.8%), ‘Transport’ (+1.0%) and ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (+0.8%).
The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was -0.1% and the annual inflation rate was 2.5%.
According to the seasonally adjusted data, GDP had a growth rate of 1.7% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
The number of employees under labour contract at the end of March 2024 increased by 1.4% as compared to the end of December 2023 and reached 2.32 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The highest increase was observed in the economic activities: ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 6.1%, ‘Information and communication’ - by 5.3%, and ‘Professional, scientific and technical activities’ - by 3.2%. The highest decrease of the number of employees - by 0.6% was recorded in the economic activities ‘Mining and quarrying’, and ‘Administrative and support service activities’.
In the first quarter of 2024, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2023, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 3.5% and reached 2 198 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Other service activities’ - by 16.9%, ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 10.2%, and in ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 10.0%.
The producer price index in agriculture for the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 20.5% in comparison with the same quarter of 2023 as a result of a decrease in the price index of crop output - by 27.3% and in the index of animal output - by 2.1%.
Compared to the previous year, the prices of agricultural output decreased by 8.3%, as in crop output they decreased by 11.7% and in animal output they increased by 1.0%.
In crop output, in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same quarter of 2023, the highest drop was recorded in the prices of cereals - by 30.0%. The trend also retained in comparison with 2023, with а decrease in cereals by 13.5%.
In animal output, in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023, the prices of live animals increased by 3.9%, while the prices of animal products output decreased by 7.8%. Compared to 2023, a decrease was registered in the prices of live animals - by 0.8%, while the prices of animal products output went up by 2.8%.
The agricultural consumer goods and services price index for the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 6.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 4.3% compared to 2023.
The biggest decrease compared to the corresponding quarter of 2023 was recorded in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 32.2% and animal feedingstuffs - by 8.1%.
Compared to the previous year, the biggest decrease was in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 17.8%, electricity - by 0.6%, and animal feedingstuffs - by 5.9%.
In March 2024, 2 213 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 62.9 thousand rooms and 130.0 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the accommodation establishments increased by 4.2% and the bed-places in them - by 4.7%.
The total number of nights spent was 1 074.8 thousand, or by 4.6% more in comparison to a year earlier, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 9.7% and reached 497.2 thousand.
The total revenues from nights spent reached 93.5 million BGN, or by 17.4% more compared to the same month of the previous year.
The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 9.9% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 7 037.3 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 2.8% and added up to 9 615.8 million BGN.
Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (20.0%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (29.7%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (31.5%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (19.3%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.
The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 19 947.2 million BGN in the period January - March 2024, which is 11.1% 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 23 772.0 million BGN and dropped by 4.1%.
In the period January - February 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 12.6% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 8 343.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 0.5% and reached 9 467.4 million BGN.
In February 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 7.8% compared to the same month of 2023 and amounted to 4 249.1 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 1.3% and reached 4 910.7 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 ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (27.8%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (48.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (114.9%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (13.3%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.
In April 2024, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 1.5 percentage points in comparison with January (from -15.5% to -14.0%). An increase of consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants - by 1.3 and 1.6 percentage points, respectively, is reported.
In March 2024, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 0.3% compared to the previous month. An increase was seen in the production of specialized construction activities - by 0.8%, and in the production of building construction - by 0.7%. In the civil engineering, a decrease of 1.0% was observed. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.
The calendar-adjusted data showed an increase of 3.7% in the construction production compared to the same month of 2023. A rise was registered in the specialized construction activities - by 7.9%, and in the civil engineering - by 5.0%. In the building construction, a decrease of 0.4% was observed.
