Press releases

During the period January - July 2010 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 48.6% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 6.4 billion levs. Bulgarian imports from third countries for the first seven months of 2010 increased by 10.1% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 8.5 billion levs.
During the period January - July 2010 the total exported goods were for 16.3 billion levs and compared to the corresponding period of 2009 the exports increased by 29.9% while the total imported goods for the same period were for 20.2 billion levs (at CIF prices) or by 6.2% more compared to the previous year.

During the period January - June 2010 the Bulgarian exports to EU increased by 17.4% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 8 billion levs.

Bulgarian imports from EU for the period January - June 2010 increased by 2.8% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 9.9 billion levs.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, in the second quarter of 2010 the newly built residential buildings were 576 and compared to the respectively quarter of 2009 decreased by 20.0%. The newly built dwellings in them decreased by 34.7% and their number was 4 119.

By preliminarily data, 1 084.4 thousand Bulgarian residents travelled to the country or abroad in the second quarter of 2010. A person of 15 years and over spent 157.7 BGN for its private domestic trip on the average and 477.6 BGN abroad.

According to preliminary data during the second quarter of 2010 in comparison with the previous three months is observed а decrease for the goods carried, as well for the transport performance by 33.4 and 31.6%. Over the corresponding period of 2009, there is a drop by the freight carriages – by 5.0% for the goods carried and by 27.8% for the transport performance. During the second quarter of 2010 transported passengers are with 1.8% less than the passengers in the first quarter of the year. In comparison with corresponding period in previous year, there is also decrease with 1.3%. Transport performance in passengerkilometres increased insignificantly in comparison with the second quarter of 2009 by 0.1%, but over the last three months, there is a increase by 8.0%.

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in July 2010 rose by 2.3% comparing to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2009 the domestic prices grew by 9.0%. Total Producer Price Index in Industry increased by 0.6% compared to the previous month, compared to the same month of 2009 the prices rose by 10.2%.

In July 2010 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents in abroad was 355.9 thousand, which was 31.9% less than the number of the trips in July 2009. In July 2010 the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 1 568.9 thousand or 6.9% more than the number of trips in the corresponding month of 2009.

The business survey carried out in August 2010 shows a certain improvement of the economic conjuncture in the country, as the total business climate indicator increases by 2.0 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. The positive change is due to the improved business climate in the sectors of construction, retail trade and services.

In the second quarter of 2010, the municipal authorities have issued building permits for construction of 1 441 residential buildings with 3 933 dwellings, of 58 administrative buildings/offices and 1 171 other buildings. The construction of 785 residential buildings with 1 881 dwellings, of 36 administrative buildings/offices and 545 other buildings has been started.

In the second quarter of 2010 the employment rate for population aged 15 - 64 was 60.2%, 3.1 percentage points lower than in the same quarter of 2009.