Press releases

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute in the second quarter of 2023, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 180, and the newly built dwellings in them were 5 198. Compared to the second quarter of 2022, the buildings were by 17 less (or by 1.4%), and the newly built dwellings in them increased by 1 121 more, or 27.5%.

75.3% of the newly built residential buildings had steel-concrete construction, 20.9% had solid structure, 3.6% had ‘other’ and 0.2% had a panel. The highest is the relative share of houses (78.7%), followed by blocks of flats (15.6%).

The highest is the number of residential buildings built in the district of Sofia (stolitsa) - 204 residential buildings with 1 168 dwellings, followed by Plovdiv - 163 residential buildings with 449 dwellings, and Burgas - 130 buildings with 1 352 dwellings in them.

The highest is the number of newly built dwellings with three rooms (32.9%), followed by the number of those with two rooms (32.0%), and the lowest is the number of dwellings with six and more rooms (4.2%).

In the second quarter of 2023, the total useful space of newly built dwellings was 500.1 thousand sq. m, or 17.6% more, compared to the same quarter of 2022, and the living floor space increased (by 16.0%) to 395.5 thousand sq. meters.

The average useful floor space of a newly built dwelling decreased from 104.3 sq. m in the second quarter of 2022 to 96.2 sq. m in the same quarter of 2023.

The biggest average useful floor space of a newly built dwelling was recorded in the districts of Silistra - 212.9 sq.m and Sofia - 157.0 sq. m, and the smallest ones in Burgas- 53.0 sq. m, and Veliko Tarnovo- 72.3 sq. meters.

In the second quarter of 2023, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 2 035 residential buildings with 12 078 dwellings, 14 administrative buildings/offices and 1 374 other buildings.

The issued building permits for new residential buildings and administrative buildings decreased by 9.5% and 30.0% respectively as compared to the second quarter of 2022. The issued building permits for other buildings have shown an increase of 18.0%.

The construction of 1 515 residential buildings with 8 136 dwellings, 23 administrative buildings/offices and 620 other buildings was started.

As compared to the second quarter of 2022, the number of started new residential buildings increased by 9.1%, administrative buildings - by 109.1%, and the number of started other buildings rose by 2.6%.

In July 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 3.2 percentage points compared to its April level (from -28.7% to -25.5%), which is entirely due to the increased confidence among the urban population.

In May 2023, compared to April 2023, an increase is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 100.0%, transport diesel - by 41.5%. The production of motor gasoline significantly increase, due to unusually low production in April 2023, as currently reaches its usual levels. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 27.5%, electricity - by 17.8%. 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: solid fuels - by 62.5%, natural gas - by 50.0%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 33.3%, electricity - by 30.5%, transport diesel - by 16.2%, and motor gasoline - by 6.9%.

In May 2023, compared to April 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 53.3%, transport diesel - by 24.6%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 29.2%, solid fuels - by 25.5%, electricity - by 8.5%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 4.4%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 26.5%, motor gasoline - by 4.5%, transport diesel - by 4.0%, and electricity - by 0.7%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 66.2%, and natural gas - by 25.0%.

The monthly data on revenues, expenses and deficit/surplus of the sub-sector ‘Central Government’ and the sub-sector ‘Social Security Funds’ for June 2023 have been published, in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU. The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Insurance Funds’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

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

Passengers and Goods attended on Airports

In 2022, the number of passengers and goods attended at airports increased by 72.0% in comparison with 2021, while the volume of processed goods rose by 3.6%.

Loaded and Unloaded Goods in River Harbours by Destination

In 2022, the volume of loaded and unloaded goods in river harbours amounted to 3 806 thousand tons, which was a decrease of 4.1% compared to 2021.

Loaded and Unloaded Goods in Sea Harbours by Destination

In 2022, the loaded and unloaded goods in sea harbours were 30 731 thousand tons, which was 20.2% more than in 2021.

For further details, please refer to the NSI website, heading 'Transport'.

The National Statistical Institute publishes data on the housing fund as of 31.12.2022. The number of dwellings in the country is 4 282 656. The number of dwellings is calculated as to the data from the Population and Housing Census as of 7.09.2021 is added the data of the newly built dwellings completed up to 31.12.2022 and the data of the destroyed dwellings is subtracted.

Data on the housing fund is available on the NSI website under the heading 'Housing fund'.

In 2021, the number of active enterprises in Bulgaria was 381 457, which is 4.8% less compared to the previous year, 2020. The newborn enterprises are 37 898, or 9.9% of the total number of enterprises in the selected economic sectors. Almost 79.4% of the enterprises born in 2020 survive one year later, as in the group of ‘1 - 4 employees’ this share is highest - 89.8%.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 1.3% in June 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 5.2%. In the mining and quarrying industry an increase by 1.1% was recorded, and in the manufacturing no change in prices was observed.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 2.4% in June 2023 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices decreased in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 5.8%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 0.9%, and in the manufacturing by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 10.9% in June 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 24.7%, in the manufacturing by 5.5%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 4.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 11.4% compared to June 2022. Lower prices were reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 24.0%, in the manufacturing by 2.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 0.5%.

In July 2023, the total business climate indicator remains to its level from June. An increase of the indicator is observed in the retail trade and service sector, while in the industry, a reduction is registered. Only in the construction, the indicator preserves its level from the previous month.

The most serious difficulties for the business development in all sectors continues to be the uncertain economic environment.