According to the preliminary data, in March 2016 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 1.5% below the level of the previous month. In March 2016 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 9.3% in comparison with the same month of 2015.
According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in March 2016 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.8% compared to the previous month.
According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 0.5% in March 2016 as compared to February 2016. In March 2016 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 3.0% in comparison with the same month of 2015.
In April 2016 the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 1.8 percentage points compared to its January level as for the urban population the increase is 1.6 percentage points and for the rural population - 2.0 percentage points.
In the first quarter of 2016, the municipal authorities issued building permits for construction of 993 residential buildings with 3 434 dwellings, of 43 administrative buildings/offices and 832 other buildings. The construction of 601 residential buildings with 2 605 dwellings, of 14 administrative buildings/offices and 369 other buildings was started.
In February 2016 compared to January 2016 a decrease of the production of solid fuels - by 20.5%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 12.1%, transport diesel - by 8.0%, natural gas - by 25.0%, and electricity - by 21.1%, is reported. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases is reported.
In February 2016 compared to January 2016 a decrease of the deliveries of solid fuels - by 20.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 13.2%, transport diesel - by 2.7%, natural gas - by 25.5%, and electricity - by 20.3%, is reported. No change for the deliveries of unleaded motor gasoline is reported.
Total Producer Price Index in March 2016 increased by 1.2% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the prices went down by 5.5%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in March 2016 rose by 0.5% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the domestic prices fell by 4.1%.
In April 2016 the total business climate indicator decreases by 3.3 percentage points in comparison with the previous month as a result of the more unfavourable business climate in industry.
The main results from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) annual comprehensive studies characterizing the activity of educational institutions are as follows:
In March 2016, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 354.7 thousand or by 11.4% above the registered in March 2015. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in March 2016 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 48.0%, followed by the trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 26.2%, and with professional purpose - 25.8%.
In March 2016, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 395.0 thousand or by 6.6% above the level of March 2015. An increase was registered in the trips with holiday and recreation purpose - by 10.9% and with other purposes - by 7.3%, while the trips with professional purpose decreased by 2.3%.