Press releases

In the first quarter of 2014, 684.7 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (84.0%) of them travelled only within the country, 12.8% - only abroad and 3.2% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2013 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over rose by 24.4%, as an increase was observed in the number of the Bulgarian residents travelled in the country - by 24.6%, as well as in the number of persons travelled abroad - by 23.4%.

According to preliminary data from the first quarter of 2014 the total turnover index for section “Transportation, storage and post”, calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data was 20.9% higher than the previous quarter. In section „Information and communication” the turnover index increased by 3.8%.

Life expectancy at birth of Bulgarian population calculated for the period 2011 - 2013 is 74.5 years. Compared to the previous period (2010 – 2012) it has increased by 0.5 years.

Life expectancy at birth for male population is 71.0 years, while for female - it is 7 years higher - 78.0 years.

In the first quarter of 2014 the unemployment rate was 13.0%, and the employment rate of population aged 15 - 64 was 59.0%.

The total income average per household member during the first quarter of 2014 is 1177 BGN or by 6.2% more compared to the same quarter of 2013.

The total expenditure per household member during the first quarter of 2014 is 1030 BGN and it is the same in relation to the first quarter of 2013.

The consumption of some main food products average per capita changes during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2014 is 1.1% compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) at the end of March 2014 the number of employees under labour contract has increased by 2.5% as compared to the end of December 2013 and reached 2.22 millions.

In the first quarter of 2014 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2013 the average monthly wages and salaries decreased by 3.9% getting 796 BGN.

The consumer price index in April 2014 compared to March 2014 was 100.3%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.3%.

In March 2014, 1 908 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 55.2 thousands and the bed-places were 109.8 thousands. In comparison with March 2013 the total number of accommodation establishments increased by 4.3% and the bed-places in them - by 4.9%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in March 2014 was 701.1 thousands or by 10.9% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The total revenues from nights spent in March 2014 reached 32.9 million BGN or by 9.9% more compared to March 2013.