Press releases

In August 2016, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 590.6 thousand or by 15.3% above the registered in August 2015. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in August 2016 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.7%, followed by the trips with holiday and recreation purpose - 41.7%, and with professional purpose - 13.6%.

In August 2016, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 1 917.5 thousand or by 10.9% more in comparison with August 2015. An increase was registered in the trips by all observed purposes: with holiday and recreation purpose - by 18.4%, with professional purpose - by 8.7%, and with other purposes - by 0.7%. 

In 2014, Bulgaria spent 15 490.8 million BGN for social protection. Тo finance social protection in the country, 8 199.0 million BGN were allocated from the state budget while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 8 282.1 million BGN.

Preliminary data of the NSI for the second quarter of 2016 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 7.3% compared to the second quarter of 2015.

According to the data from the NSI ‘Social Inclusion and Living Conditions’ (EU-SILC) survey in 2015 the average monthly poverty line for the country is 325.83 BGN per person. The number of persons who are below this line is 1 585.8 thousand representing 22.0% of the population in Bulgaria. In 2015 the share of children aged 0 - 17 years in at-risk-of-poverty is 25.4%, or 305.6 thousand.

In July 2016, 3 079 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 132.9 thousand and the bed-places were 306.1 thousand. In comparison with July 2015 the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 2.7% and the bed-places in them - by 4.4%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in July 2016 was 5 734.8 thousand, or by 18.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in July 2016 reached 286.3 million BGN or by 18.0% more compared to July 2015.

The consumer price index in August 2016 compared to July 2016 was 100.0%, i.e. the monthly inflation  was 0.0%.

In 2015 the exported goods were for 44 949.5 Million BGN and compared to 2014 the exports increased by 4.0%. The imported goods in 2015 were for 51 549.0 Million BGN (at CIF prices) or 0.9% more than the previous year.

In the period January - June 2016 the Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 3.7% compared to the same period of 2015 and amounted to 14 679.2 Million BGN while the imports from the EU decreased by 0.3% and reached 16 051.5 Million BGN.

In June 2016 the exports to the EU increased by 5.0% in comparison with the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2 689.4 Million BGN while the imports added up to 2 880.5 Million BGN and grew by 1.8%.

In the period January - July 2016 the Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 15.6% compared to the same period of 2015 and amounted to 8 287.3 Million BGN while the imports dropped by 16.0% and added up to 9 244.3 Million BGN.

In the period January - July 2016 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 25 769.6 Million BGN and in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year the exports decreased by 3.1% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 28 201.8 Million BGN and dropped by 6.5%.

According to the preliminary data, in July 2016 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 1.4% below the level of the previous month. In July 2016 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 11.8% in comparison with the same month of 2015.