Press releases

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 13.3% compared to the period January - April 2022 and amounted to 10 851.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 7.9% and added up to 13 230.3 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - April 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (78.6%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (38.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (12.4%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (44.0%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (27.0%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (30.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 29 811.1 million BGN in the period January - April 2023, which is 3.6% more 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 32 790.5 million BGN and grew by 0.05%.

In April 2023, 2 239 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 68.5 thousand rooms and 144.3 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with April 2022, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 12.5% and the bed-places in them - by 6.6%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in April 2023 was 1 032.8 thousand, or by 16.3% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In April 2023, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 19.8% compared to the same month of 2022 and reached 471.1 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in April 2023 reached 76.7 million BGN, or by 37.3% more compared to April 2022.

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section decreased by 1.0% in April 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of civil engineering fell by 1.3% and the production of building construction - by 0.8%.

Compared to April 2022, the index of production in construction went down by 2.3%. A decrease was registered both in civil engineering - by 4.7%, and in building construction - by 0.5%.

The Industrial Production Index decreased by 2.9% in April 2023 compared to March 2023. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to the previous month, a drop was reported in the mining and quarrying industry - by 8.4%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 6.9%, and in the manufacturing - by 3.0%.

In April 2023, a decline of 12.6% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to April 2022, a drop was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 38.7%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 10.5%, and in the manufacturing - by 8.2%.

In April 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 2.0% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decline was reported in all major groups: ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.3%, ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.1% and ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.1%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover went down by 2.7% compared to the same month in 2022.

А decrease of 6.7% was observed in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’, while in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ was reported a growth of 7.3%. The ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ kept the level of the previous month.

In the first quarter of 2023, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.3% and Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2.7% compared to the first quarter of 2022 (data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted).

The increase in Gross Value Added is determined by the growth in the following economic activities:

Construction - 7.0%, Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities - 5.9%, Information and communication - 3.2%, Real estate activities - 3.2%, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities - 1.6%, Financial and insurance activities - 1.1%, Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 1.1%, Mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, waste management and remediation activities - 0.1%.

A decline was registered in Arts, entertainment and recreation, repair of household goods and other services - 0.8%.

Regarding the expenditure components of GDP, contributors to the registered positive economic growth are the Final consumption, with a growth of 2.1% and gross fixed capital formation - 1.8%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, in the first quarter of 2023, exports of goods and services increased by 2.3%, while the imports of goods and services decreased by 2.3% compared to the first quarter of 2022.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022.

In the first quarter of 2023, the National Statistical Institute continued conducting an additional survey to the Household Budget Survey, which aims to carry out quarterly monitoring of changes in the living conditions of households. For the study, 5 682 persons aged 16 years and over from 3 053 households were surveyed.

The results of the additional survey can be viewed in the press releases under the heading ‘Income, expenditure and consumption of households’.

In March 2023, compared to February 2023, for the production of energy products, no increase is observed for any of the products. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 28.8%, transport diesel by - 15.9%, electricity - by 9.9%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 5.2%. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas.

In March 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, for the production of energy products, no increase is observed for any of the products. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 44.7%, transport diesel - by 34.8%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 32.1%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 28.6%, and electricity - by 28.0%.

In March 2023, compared to February 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of natural gas - by 0.4%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 29.7%, transport diesel - by 17.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 12.8%, electricity - by 4.5%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 2.3%.

In March 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases - by 34.4%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 50.2%, transport diesel - by 37.2%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 35.8%, natural gas - by 26.0%, and electricity - by 10.6%.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry went down by 2.3% in April 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 8.3%, and in the manufacturing by 0.1%. The prices increased by 1.4% in the mining and quarrying industry.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 3.2% in comparison with March 2023. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 7.0%, and in the manufacturing by 0.8%. The prices raised in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.2%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 3.5% in April 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 19.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.1%. Higher prices were seen in the manufacturing by 3.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 4.7% compared to April 2022. Lower prices were reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 18.1%. An increase was observed in the manufacturing by 6.5%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.1%.