According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) at the end of December 2011 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 2.6% as compared to the end of September 2011 and reached to 2.13 millions. In fourth quarter of 2011 in comparison with the third quarter of 2011 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 4.9% getting 727 levs.
In 2011 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 24.4% compared to the previous year and exceeded 14.8 billion levs while the imports increased by 19.2% and amounted to 18.6 billion levs.
In 2011 the total value of the exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 39.3 billion levs and compared to 2010 the exports increased by 29.2% while the total value of all imported goods was 45.1 billion levs and increased by 19.9%.
In the period January - November 2011 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 33.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 22.6 billion levs while the imports increased by 20.7% and amounted to 24.1 billion levs.
In November 2011 the exports to the EU increased by 29.1% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded 2.2 billion levs while the imports increased by 13.9% and exceeded 2.6 billion levs .
According to the preliminary data of the NSI, in December 2011 the index of production in section ‘Construction’, calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 1.1% below the level of the previous month.
The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index seasonally adjusted decreased by 1.3% in December 2011 as compared to November 2011. The working day adjusted Industrial Production Index fell by 0.6% as compared to the same month of 2010.
In January 2012 the total consumer confidence indicator decreases by 2.2 percentage points in comparison with its level in October 2011 which is due entirely to a worsening of consumer confidence among the urban population.
NSI presents preliminary results from the Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2011.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the municipal authorities have issued building permits for construction of 1 194 residential buildings with 2 945 dwellings, of 56 administrative buildings/offices and of 1 563 other buildings. The construction of 640 residential buildings with 1 740 dwellings, of 28 administrative buildings/offices and of 670 other buildings has been started.
According to preliminary data production of unleaded motor gasoline in December 2011 compared to November 2011 increases by 4.0%, transport diesel - by 6.2% and electricity - by 6.0%. The production of solid fuels decreases by 5.9%. There is no change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases.
Deliveries of transport diesel in December 2011 compared to November 2011 increase by 34.9%, natural gas - by 8.5% and electricity - by 5.5%. Decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels by 7.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.4% and unleaded motor gasoline - by 17.9%.
Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in December 2011 remained at the level of the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2010 the domestic prices grew by 4.1%. Total Producer Price Index decreased by 0.6% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2010 the prices went up by 4.0%.