Press releases

In January 2025, the total business climate indicator remains to its level from December 2024. An increase of the indicator is observed in the construction, in industry preserves approximately its level from the previous month, and in retail trade and in service sector a reduction is registered.

The most serious difficulties for the business development in the sectors remain connected with the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch and costs of materials.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 3.6% in December 2024 compared to the previous month. An increase of 13.6% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%, while in the mining and quarrying industry the prices went down - by 1.5%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 5.1% in December 2024 compared to November 2024. The domestic prices grew in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 12.6%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.8%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went up by 5.3% in December 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 20.2%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 11.2%, as well as in the manufacturing industry - by 2.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 6.6% compared to December 2023. The prices went up in the mining and quarrying industry - by 17.1%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 13.3%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 1.2%.

In November 2024, compared to October 2024, an increase was reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 73.5%, and electricity - by 3.5%. A decrease was reported in the production of: motor gasoline - by 29.3%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 14.3%, and transport diesel - by 1.6%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to November 2023, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 50.0%, and solid fuels - by 16.4%. A decrease is reported in the production of: motor gasoline - by 42.4%, and transport diesel - by 3.8%, and electricity - by 3.3%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In November 2024, compared to October 2024, an increase was reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 60.5%, natural gas - by 32.4%, electricity - by 24.8%, and motor gasoline - by 12.5%. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 10.3%, and transport diesel - by 2.4%.

Compared to November 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 28.6%, electricity - by 13.2%, natural gas - by 11.5%, solid fuels - by 8.8%, and transport diesel - by 1.7%. No decrease is observed for any of the products. There is no change in the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases.

In December 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 727.2 thousand, or 12.0% above the registered in December 2023. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 833.3 thousand, or 6.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase was registered in the trips with holiday and recreation purposes - by 20.0%, and with professional purposes - by 7.7%, while those with other purposes decreased by 1.3%. Transit passes through the country were 35.5% (295.9 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In the third quarter of 2024, revenues of the ‘General government’ sector amounting to BGN 17 618.72 million and expenditures amounting to BGN 20 635.01 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 third quarter of 2024, the reported Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) are as follows:

• ‘Total economy sector’: 3 497.00 million BGN;
• ‘Rest of the World’ sector: -3 497.00 million BGN.

The quarterly non-financial accounts of the ‘General Government’ and the ‘Rest of the World’ sectors present, on the basis of national accounts, the economic activity of the government and non-resident units in a manner comparable to other European countries, according to the European System of National Accounts 2010. For this purpose, tables showing revenues and expenses of the ‘General Government’ and ‘Rest of the World’ sectors are developed.

The ‘General Government" sector data are derived by using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as estimates of the government units requalified in the sector.

‘Rest of the World’ sector data are developed using the Balance of Payments provided by the Bulgarian National Bank, as well as estimates developed by the National Statistical Institute.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the topic 'Non-financial national accounts by institutional sectors'.

NSI has published 2023 data on energy indicators Primary energy consumption and Energy dependency, calculated from the Overall Energy Balance of the country.

The Primary energy consumption decreased by 12.49% compared to the previous year, reaching 16 575.950 thousand toe in 2023. The indicator measures the country’s total energy needs, excluding any non-energy use of energy carriers.

The Energy dependency in 2023 increased by 2.61 percentage points – up to 39.72% compared to the previous year. The indicator shows the extent to which a country’s economy depends on imports to meet its energy needs.

Data from previous years can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’, Overall Energy Balance.

In 2023, the energy intensity of the economy decreased by 13.5% compared to the previous year.

The indicator Energy intensity of the economy measures the quantity of energy used for the production of a unit gross domestic product (GDP). The Energy intensity of the economy is calculated on the basis of GDP at average 2010 and 2015 prices in thousand euro.

Data from previous years can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’, Overall Energy Balance.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the newly registered legal entities in the country were 11 143, and those declared bankrupt - 1 165. Compared to the third quarter of 2024, total number of newly registered increased by 4.7%, and that of bankruptcies - by 31.9% Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the total number of newly registered increased by 4.8%, and that of bankruptcies - by 19.2%.

In December 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.4% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in December 2024, compared to December 2023, was 2.2%.

In December 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered in the following groups: ‘Recreation and culture’ (+5.9%), ‘Transport’ (+1.3%), ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.7%) and ‘Miscellaneous goods and services’ (+0.6%). The highest decrease in the prices was recorded in the groups: ‘Clothing and footwear’ (-1.3%) and ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (-0.6%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.3% and the annual inflation rate was 2.1%.