Press releases

In February 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 February 2024 compared to February 2023 was 3.3%.

The highest increase was registered for Transport (+1.5%), Restaurants and hotels (+0.9%), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+0.8%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.6%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-2.5%), Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (-0.6%) and Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.1%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.3% and the annual inflation rate was 3.5%.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 11.6% compared to January 2023 and amounted to 2 147.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 18.2% and added up to 2 911.1 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (35.7%) and ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (13.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (66.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Food and live animals’ (9.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (38.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 6 240.3 million BGN in January 2024, which is 15.2% less than the same month of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 7 467.8 million BGN and dropped by 8.2%.

In 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 9.0% compared to 2022 and amounted to 55 142.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 2.5% and reached 58 124.8 million BGN.

In December 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 7.8% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 3 898.2 million BGN, while the imports fell by 2.8% and added up to 4 763.6 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (10.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (63.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (15.7%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (60.7%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

In January 2024, 2 171 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 62.4 thousand rooms and 128.9 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with January 2023, the accommodation establishments increased by 5.1% and the bed-places in them - by 5.9%.

The total number of nights spent was 1 030.9 thousand, or by 0.2% less in comparison to a year earlier, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 1.7% and reached 432.2 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 91.1 million BGN, or by 17.4% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

The Industrial Production Index decreased by 2.5% in January 2024 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decrease was seen in the mining and quarrying industry - by 10.7%, in the manufacturing - by 2.5%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.8%.

In comparison with January 2023, a decline of 7.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.

On an annual basis, a drop in the Industrial Production Index was observed in the manufacturing - by 10.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 8.2%, while an increase was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 7.8%.

In January 2024, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 1.0% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed an increase of 0.7% in construction production compared to the same month of 2023.

Fourth quarter of 2023

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 and there is an increase of 0.5% compared to the third quarter of 2023 at seasonally adjusted data

2023 - Annual data

In 2023, GDP at current prices, calculated as a sum of the quarters, is 183 743.4 million BGN. Preliminary data show an increase of GDP for 2023 in real terms by 1.8% compared to 2022.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 0.9% in 2023 compared to 2022.

In 2023, 4 019 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 157.2 thousand rooms and 359.9 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with 2022, the accommodation establishments decreased by 0.3% and the bed-places in them increased by 1.4%.

The total number of nights spent was 26.9 million, or by 11.1% more in comparison with the previous year, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 13.4% and reached 8.6 million.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 2 080.2 million BGN, or by 24.1% more compared to a year before.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Tourism'.