Press releases

In the period January - April 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 1.2% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 18 960.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 6.1% and reached 19 533.0 million BGN.

In April 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 18.1% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 287.2 million BGN, while the imports dropped by 0.1% and amounted to 4 573.1 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - April 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (26.8%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (57.3%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (27.4%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (55.4%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 8.7% compared to the period January - May 2022 and amounted to 13 380.9 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 10.6% and added up to 16 376.1 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - May 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (73.1%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (29.5%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (23.9%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (30.6%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (25.8%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (30.4%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 37 075.7 million BGN in the period January - May 2023, which is 0.2% less than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 40 874.8 million BGN and dropped by 2.2%.

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 1.0% in May 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of civil engineering rose by 1.2% and the production of building construction - by 0.9%.

Compared to May 2022, no change in construction production was observed. An increase was registered in the building construction - by 1.8%, while a decrease of 2.5% in civil engineering was seen.

In May 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.5% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A rise of turnover was reported in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 3.4%, and ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.1%, while in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ was registered a decrease - by 0.3%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover went up by 1.8% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was observed in all major groups: in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (8.0%), in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (1.6%) and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ (0.4%).

The Industrial Production Index increased by 1.6% in May 2023 compared to April 2023. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to the previous month, growth was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 8.8%, and in the manufacturing - by 0.7%, while the production went down in the mining and quarrying industry - by 4.7%.

In May 2023, a decline of 11.0% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to May 2022, a drop was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 26.1%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 24.0%, and in the manufacturing - by 8.3%.

In the first quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.3% compared to the first quarter of 2022.

In April 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 4.2 percentage points compared to January 2023.

During the first quarter of 2023, 70.0% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.

The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.1%.

Тhe unemployment rate decreased by 0.4 percentage points and stood at 4.4%.

The total hourly labour cost rose by 15.1% for the first quarter of 2023.

In the first quarter of 2023, the house price index increased by 9.5%.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 2.9% in May 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 4.4%, in the manufacturing by 2.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 2.5% in May 2023 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices decreased in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 4.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.9%, and in the manufacturing by 1.3%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 6.7% in May 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 19.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 4.4%, and in the manufacturing by 1.5%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 7.0% compared to May 2022. Lower prices were reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 18.9%. An increase was observed in the manufacturing by 2.1%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 0.4%.

In April 2023, compared to March 2023, for the production of energy products, no increase is observed for any of the products. A decrease is reported for the production of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 59.1%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 40.0%, solid fuels - by 27.1%, electricity - by 17.3%, and transport diesel by - 7.9%. No change for the production of  natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, a decrease is reported for the production of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 67.4%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 57.1%, natural gas - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 44.1%, transport diesel - by 25.7%, and electricity - by 25.6%.

In April 2023, compared to March 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 4.7%, and transport diesel - by 1.8%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 29.2%, natural gas - by 18.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 11.8%, and electricity - by 11.1%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 32.4%, natural gas - by 5.0%, and electricity - by 2.7%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 51.1%, transport diesel - by 13.0%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 3.2%.

In June 2023, the total business climate indicator preserves approximately its level from the previous month. An improvement of the indicator is registered in retail trade, in the industry remains on its May level, and in construction and service sector a decrease is observed.

The main problem for the activity in all sectors remain the uncertain economic environment.

In Bulgaria during 2022 were published 11 828 books and pamphlets, which is with 129 more than the previous year. With the highest number were the scientific issues 3 369 titles, followed by the fiction for adults – 1 891. The translated titles were 2 596, of which  than half were translated from English (56.8%), followed by the editions translated from Russian – 6.4%, German – 5.7% and French – 5.5%. The highest number of books and pamphlets were published in Sofia (stolitsa)  – 7 734, followed by Plovdiv (837) and Varna (670) districts.

In 2022 were issued 191 newspapers, from which were 25 dailies, and in comparison with the previous year, their number decreased respectively by 10 and 4. The highest number of newspapers were issued in Sofia (stolitsa) district – 47.1% of all editions. 442 magazines and 61 bulletins were published and in comparison with 2021, the number of magazines increased by 2 and bulletins by 8.