Press releases

In January 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.3% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Аn increase was observed in the non-food products (except fuel) and in the food, beverages and tobacco - by 2.2% and 0.2%, respectively. A downgrade was registered in the automotive fuel - by 5.3%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover kept the level of the same month in 2023.

А decrease was registered in the automotive fuel in specialised stores - by 13.2%, and in non-food products (except fuel) - by 0.5%, while in the food, beverages and tobacco was observed an increase - by 6.3%.

In 2022, expenditures amounting to 69 397,28 BGN million were reported.

The data of the 'General Government' sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

For January 2024, revenues of  the subsector ‘Central Govermnent’ were reported in the amount of BGN 3 973.26  million and expenditures - BGN 4 104.52  million, and for  the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted  to BGN 2 585.94  million, and the expenditures are BGN 2 403.65 million.

The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the largest increase in Service prices compared to the previous quarter was recorded in Cleaning activities - by 7.7%. A decrease in prices was registered in Sea and coastal water transport - by 5.8%.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Short-term Business Statistics'.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 1.8% in January 2024 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 6.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.6%, and in the manufacturing industry by 0.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 1.8% in January 2024 compared to December 2023. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 5.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.9%. In the manufacturing industry, the prices grew by 0.4%. 

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 14.2% in January 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 39.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 7.1%, and in the manufacturing industry by 1.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 17.8% compared to January 2023. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 36.8%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 8.2%, and in the manufacturing industry by 0.8%.

In December 2023, compared to November 2023, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 22.1%, electricity - by 21.2%, and transport diesel - by 6.2%. A decrease is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.0%, and motor gasoline - by 9.3%. There is no change for the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of transport diesel - by 12.2%. A decrease is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 34.6%, electricity - by 13.9%, and motor gasoline - by 12.2%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In December 2023, compared to November 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.7%, electricity - by 18.3%, solid fuels - by 16.5%, and natural gas - by 12.3%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 22.4%, and transport diesel - by 19.7%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 4.3%, and electricity - by 4.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 30.6%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 20.0%, transport diesel - by 19.7%, and motor gasoline - by 13.6%.

National Statistical Institute has published final 2022 data on research and development (R&D) activity. In 2022, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 265.6 million BGN, which was 17.8% more than the previous year. The personnel engaged in R&D activity amounted to 27 090 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 7.8% more compared to 2021.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading „Research and development activity (R&D)“.

In February 2024, the total business climate indicator preserves approximately its level from the previous month. An increase of the indicator is observed in the industry, while in the construction and retail trade preserves its level from January. Only in the service sector, a reduction is registered.

The most serious obstacles for the activity of the enterprises in the sectors remain connected with the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, costs of materials and insufficient demand.

In January 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 537.5 thousand, or 6.6% above the registered in January 2023.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 50.3%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 27.1%, and with professional purpose - 22.6%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 741.3 thousand, or 4.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The predominant share of the visits was with other purposes - 51.0%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 35.9%, and with professional purpose - 13.1%.

Transit passes through the country were 32.6% (241.9 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the goods carried by freight land and water transport rose by 3.8%, while the transport performance declined by 16.8% in comparison with the same quarter of 2022. The data are preliminary.

The number of passengers carried by the passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) decreased by 5.9%. The transport performance also recorded a decline of 0.3%.

Fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022:

• The transported goods by land transport increased by 3.2%, while the transport performance dropped by 17.3%.
• The goods carried by sea and inland waterway transport rose by 217.8 thousand tonnes and the transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometres, increased by 19.8%.
• The number of the transported passengers by land transport decreased by 5.7% and the transport performance recorded a drop of 1.4%.
• There was a decrease of 1.8 thousand passengers in the volume of transported passengers by water transport and the transport performance declined by 0.6%.
• The enterprises performing urban electrical transport carried 4.4 thousand passengers less, while the transport performance increased by 6.1%.