Press releases

In the period January - July 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 3.5% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 31 982.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 5.0% and amounted to 32 363.7 million BGN.

In July 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 5.4% compared to the same month of 2023 and amounted to 5 053.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 1.4% and amounted to 4 685.5 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same month of 2023 was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (44.5%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Food and live animals’ (18.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (56.1%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’ (12.6%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The value of the final output produced in agriculture for 2023 amounted to 10 554.4 million BGN (at current prices), registering a decline of 18.2% compared to the previous year. The decrease was due to drop both in prices - by 15.3 and in volumes - by 3.5%, compared to 2022.

The value of the goods and services currently consumed in agriculture amounted to 6 337.4 million BGN, which was 9.3% lower than the previous year. The decrease was due to the drop both in prices - by 5.5% and in volumes - by 4.0%.

The gross value added produced in agriculture was equal to 4 217.0 million BGN (at basic prices). It was 28.7% less than the previous year. The decrease was due to the significant drop in prices - by 26.6%, as well as to the decrease in volumes - by 2.8% on an annual basis.

The net operating surplus/mixed income in agriculture amounted to 3 604.5 million BGN and was 37.8% lower compared to the previous year. The decrease was a result of the drop of gross value added produced in agriculture compared to the previous year.

The net entrepreneurial income in agriculture amounted to 969.4 million BGN and decreased by 70.1% compared to the previous year, as a result of the decline in net operating surplus/mixed income and the increase in rents.

The gross fixed capital formation in agriculture was equal to 1 354.2 million BGN and decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous year. The bigger part of it - 1 248.7 million BGN (92.2%), represented gross fixed capital formation in non-agricultural products (agricultural machinery, equipment and vehicles, and in buildings).

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Industrial Production Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Industrial Production Index increased by 0.8% in August 2024 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

In August 2024, compared to the previous month, an increase was seen in the mining and quarrying industry - by 22.1%, and in the manufacturing - by 2.3%, while a decrease was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 11.8%.

In comparison with August 2023, a decrease of 2.6% was reported in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.

On an annual basis, a drop of the Industrial Production Index was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 10.0%, and in the manufacturing - by 1.7%, while an increase was registered in the mining and quarrying industry - by 15.3%.

Since July 2024, NSI has started publishing Construction Production Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

In August 2024, the production index in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 1.7% compared to the previous month. An increase was seen in the production of specialized construction activities - by 2.6%, in the civil engineering - by 2.4%, and in the production of building construction - by 0.4%. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The calendar-adjusted data showed an increase of 5.5% in the construction production compared to the same month of 2023. Specialized construction activities rose by 11.8% and civil engineering - by 7.9%. Production of building construction decreased by 1.1%.

In August 2024, 3 720 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation, with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 147.8 thousand rooms and 338.9 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments increased by 0.5%, and the bed-places in them - by 0.3%.

The total number of nights spent was 6.3 million, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 4.1% and reached 1.6 million.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 581.9 million BGN, or by 11.3% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Turnover Indices in Retail trade by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

In August 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.6% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decrease was reported in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 1.1% and ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 0.6%. ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ kept the level of the previous month.

The trade turnover rose by 4.9% compared to August 2023 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In August 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase in turnover was registered in the ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 10.2% and in the ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 4.7%. А decrease was reported in the ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 6.4%.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Services Production Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

In July 2024, the total production index in Services of the business economy increased by 1.2% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to July 2023, an increase of 8.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted index according to preliminary data.

In the second quarter of 2024:

• Тhe Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.1% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
• 69.2% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.
• The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP was 17.2%.
• The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.2%.
• The unemployment rate was 4.3% (compared to 4.6% in the second quarter of 2023), 4.4% for men and 4.1% for women, respectively.
• Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the total hourly labour cost rose by 15.4% (preliminary data).
• Compared to the second quarter of 2023, housing prices increased by 15.1%.

In July 2024, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 5.6 percentage points compared to its April 2024 level.

For August 2024, the reported revenues of subsector ‘Central Government’ amounted to BGN 4 168,08 million and the expenditures - BGN 4 762,09 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 840,20 million and the expenditures were BGN 2 846,33 million.

The data for the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data for 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 September 2024, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous month, as a result of the more unfavourable business climate in the industry sector.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, insufficient demand and costs of materials continue to be the main factors limiting the business development in the sectors.