Press releases

Preliminary data for fourth quarter of 2009 indicated that total hourly labour cost rose by 7.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2008.

In 2009 the employment rate (15-64) dropped by 1.4 percentage points in comparison with 2008 and achieved 62.6%. For the same period the number of unemployed went up by 19.2%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, the construction production in January 2010 was 30.7% less compared to the same month of the previous year.

The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index decreased by 0.9% in January 2010 as compared to January 2009, as compared to the previous month the production decreased by 14.7%. Industrial Turnover Index decreased by 2.8% compared to January 2009, as compared to the previous month the turnover fall by 18.1%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, in the fourth quarter of 2009 the newly built residential buildings were 962 compared to the previous quarter of 2009 and registered a significant increase of 40.4%, as newly build dwellings in them was with 1 190 more and their number reached 6 404.

According to the preliminarily data, 1 178 thousand Bulgarian residents travelled to the country or abroad in the fourth quarter of 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the average expenditure per person of 15 years and over travelled domestic and outbound with private purpose were 143.5 BGN and 1095.0 BGN respectively.

In February 2010 the NSI business surveys do not register a significant change of the business conjuncture in the country. The total business climate indicator preserves its level from the previous month.

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in January 2010 rose 1.2% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2009 the domestic prices increased by 1.8%. Total Producer Price Index in Industry in January 2010 increased by 1.8% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2009 the prices increased by 3.0%.

In January 2010 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents in abroad was 282.7 thousand, which was 16.5% less than the number of the trips in January 2009. In January 2010, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 304.8 thousand or 14.3% more than the number of trips in the same month of 2009.

In 2009, there were 3 533 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed places. The total number of the nights spent in 2009 in all accommodation establishments fell by 2923.0 thousand (16.0%) as compared to 2008, to 15 372.4 thousand.