Press releases

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the number of job vacancies, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), was 16.8 thousand, increasing by 4.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The job vacancy rate (the proportion of the number of job vacancies to the total sum of number of occupied posts and the number of vacancies) was 0.7%.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Labour Market'.

The housing prices increased by 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter (third quarter of 2024). The highest increase was recorded in Ruse (+8.0%), followed by Plovdiv (+5.9%), Varna (+5.1%) and Stara Zagora (+4.5%).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, housing prices rose by 18.3%.

Detailed data are published on NSI’s website under the heading 'Housing price statistics'.

The total export price index during the fourth quarter of 2024 was 99.5%, which is a 10.1 percentage points increase in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period was 99.7%, which is a 3.2 percentage points increase in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total export price index in 2024 was 96.0%, which is a 3.0 percentage points increase in the index compared to the previous year.

The total import price index in 2024 was 98.2%, which is a 1.9 percentage points increase in the index compared to the previous year.

Preliminary data on export and import price indices for the fourth quarter of 2024 by sectors of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Exports and imports price indices'.

In 2023, expenditures amounting to 71 856,43 BGN million were reported.

The data of the "General Government" sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023, the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.8% (according to preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 11.5% in industry, by 13.1% in services and by 17.3% in construction.

The National Statistical Institute published data for 2023 on structural indicators: Net earnings and average tax rate; Tax wedge on labour costs; Unemployment trap; Low wage trap and Gender pay gap.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading ' Labour Market'.

In February 2025, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.6% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in February 2025, compared to February 2024, was 4.0%.

In February 2025, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Communications’ (+2.3%), ‘Alcoholic beverages and tobacco’ (+1.0%), ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.9%), ‘Recreation and culture’ (+0.9%) and ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (+0.8%). A decrease in the prices was recorded in the groups: ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-2.1%) and ‘Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house’ (-0.1%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.4% and the annual inflation rate was 3.9%.

In 2024, the goods carried by road freight transport were 10.4% less compared to 2023. A fall of 28.5% was registered for international transport, and for domestic transport a decrease of 6.6% was seen.

The transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometers, decreased by 18.5% compared to the previous year, which was due to a decrease in international transport - by 28.8%. In domestic transport an increase of 5.7% was recorded.

Detailed data are published on NSI’s website under the heading heading 'Transport', Road freight transport.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, the number of employees under labour contract (according to the requirements of the Сommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 on short-term business statistics on employment) in non-financial enterprises was 1.6 million, or by 0.4% higher than at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023.

In Industry (incl. Mining and quarrying; Manufacturing; Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; Water collection, treatment and supply) the number of employees was 503.0 thousand, decreasing with 2.7% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

The number of employees in the Services of the business economy (except trade and financial and insurance activities) was 544.5 thousand, increasing with 2.5% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The National Statistical Institute (NSI) publishes data about the number of employees under labour contract in the non-financial enterprises in accordance with the requirements of the Сommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 with additional disaggregations by economic activities.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Labour Market'.

According to the results of the Labour Force Survey, in 2024:

- The unemployment rate was 4.2%, by 0.1 percentage points lower compared to 2023.

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 increased by 0.2 percentage points in comparison with 2023 and stood at 70.9%.

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 74.0%, by 0.1 percentage points higher compared to 2023.

The data are from the Labour Force Survey - a sample statistical survey. It is carried out over a sample of non-institutional households. Quarterly, about 19.6 thousand households, randomly selected, are observed.