According to the preliminary data, in February 2016 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 2.7% above the level of the previous month. In February 2016 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 1.9% in comparison with the same month of 2015.
According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in February 2016 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month.
According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 0.2% in February 2016 as compared to January 2016. In February 2016 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 2.1% in comparison with the same month of 2015.
In January 2016 compared to December 2015 an increase of the production of liquefied petroleum gases - by 12.5%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 11.5%, transport diesel - by 8.7%, natural gas - by 16.7%, and electricity - by 4.9%, is reported. At the same time a decrease of the production of solid fuels - by 4.4% is reported.
In January 2016 compared to December 2015 an increase of the deliveries of natural gas - by 11.8%, and electricity - by 17.0%, is reported. At the same time a decrease of the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 40.0%, and transport diesel - by 43.0% is reported. No change for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases is reported.
Total Producer Price Index in February 2016 declined by 0.5% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the prices went down by 5.2%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in February 2016 decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the domestic prices fell by 4.0%.
In March 2016 the total business climate indicator increases by 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous month which is due to the more favourable managers’ opinions in industry, construction and retail trade.
In February 2016, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 281.4 thousand or by 9.8% above the registered in February 2015. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in February 2016 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 52.2%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 25.4%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - 22.4%.
In February 2016, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 361.9 thousand or by 9.7% above the level of February 2015. An increase was registered in the trips by all observed purposes: with holiday and recreation purpose - by 20.8%, with professional purpose - by 4.2%, and with other purposes - by 1.3%.
Preliminary data of the NSI for the fourth quarter of 2015 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 5.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
In 2015 the unemployment rate was 9.1%, and the employment rate of population aged 15 - 64 was 62.9%.