Press releases

The total income average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2022 is 2 426 BGN and increases by 19.1% compared to the same quarter of 2021.

The total expenditure average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2022 is 2 259 BGN and increases by 19.9% compared to the same quarter of 2021.

The consumption of most basic food products average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2022 decreased compared to the same quarter of 2021. The biggest decrease is in the consumption of bread and paste products - from 19.6 kg to 18.9 kg, meat - from 10.1 kg to 9.6 kg and fruit - from 13.3 kg to 12.8 kg.

The producer price index in agriculture for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased by 18.0% compared to the same quarter of 2021 as a result of an increase in the price index of crop output by 14.7% and livestock output by 36.2%.

Compared to the previous year, the prices of agricultural output increased by 28.2%, and in crop output they increased by 25.9% and in livestock output by 41.3%.

In crop output, in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the same quarter of 2021, the highest growth was recorded in the prices of cereals - by 30.3%. The trend also retained in comparison to 2021, with the increase in cereal prices by 47.5% and in industrial crops - by 8.8%.

In animal output, in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter of 2021, the prices of live animals increased by 38.0%, and of animal products output - by 34.3%. Compared to 2021, the increase was respectively 37.5% and 45.2%.

The price index of products and services for currently consumed in agriculture for the fourth quarter of 2022 was higher by 22.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 38.1% compared to 2021.

The biggest increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 was recorded in the prices of mineral fertilizers - by 54.1%, of feedingstuffs - by 30.7% and of seed and planting material - by 24.9%.

Compared to the previous year, the biggest increase was in the prices of: mineral fertilizers by 118.2%, preparations for plant protection - by 38.6% and feedingstuffs - by 38.1%.

According to the preliminary data of the NSI, in January 2023 the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.1% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in January 2023 compared to January 2022 was 16.4%.

In January 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Transport (+2.3%), Miscellaneous goods and services (+1.7%), Health (+1.5%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+1.5%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-1.9%) and Recreation and culture (-0.1%).

According to the preliminary data of the NSI, in January 2023 the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 1.0% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in January 2023 compared to January 2022 was 14.1%.

The number of employees under labour contract at the end of December 2022 decreased by 0.7%, as compared to the end of September 2022 and reached 2.26 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute. The highest decrease was observed in economic activities: ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 5.9%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’- by 5.8%  and ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’ - by 4.5%. The highest increase in the number of employees was recorded in economic activities: ‘Education’ - by 1.2% and ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ - by 1.1%.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, in comparison with the third quarter of 2022, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 7.8% and reached 1 879 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Education’ - by 19.7%, ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ - by 14.9%, in ‘Financial and insurance activities’ - by 12.6% and in ‘Human health and social work activities’ - by 11.0%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, GDP has a growth of 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Тhe exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 41.3% compared to the same period in 2021 and amounted to 58 448.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 31.7% and reached 55 113.9 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same period of 2021 was recorded in sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (214.2%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (136.8%). A fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (10.2%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (86.2%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports to the EU increased by 29.0% in November 2022 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 5 646.1 million BGN, while the imports grew by 26.4% and added up to 5 711.7 million BGN.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 35.5% compared to 2021 and amounted to 31 391.4 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 58.8% and added up to 48 288.9 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to 2021 was recorded in the sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (218.7%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (195.4%). A fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’^[1] (6.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (560.6%) and ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (126.0%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 94 372.8 million BGN in 2022, which is 37.9% more than the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 108 305.8 million BGN and grew by 41.1%.

In December 2022, 2 224 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed-places, functioned in the country with 62.0 thousand rooms and 128.1 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with December 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 23.1% and the bed-places in them - by 19.4%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in December 2022 was   968.0 thousand, or by 57.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In December 2022, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 62.6% compared to the same month of 2021 and reached 472.6 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in December 2022 reached 74.9 million BGN, as 47.4 million BGN were from Bulgarian residents and 27.5 million BGN - from non-residents.

Тhe index of production in section ‘Construction’ decreased by 1.6% in December 2022 compared to the previous month. The production of civil engineering fell by 1.7% and the production of building construction - by 1.6%.

Compared to December 2021, the index of production in construction went down by 4.3%. A decrease was registered both in building construction by 6.1% and in civil engineering - by 2.0%.

In December 2022, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A growth in turnover was reported in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ by 1.3% and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ by 1.1%, while in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ was observed a decrease by 0.6%.

The calendar adjusted turnover increased by 3.4% compared to the same month in 2021.

Growth was seen in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ by 15.8% and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ by 4.4%. A decline was noted in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ by 2.7%.