Press releases

In October 2022, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decrease in turnover was reported in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ by 0.9% and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ by 0.3%, while in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ was observed an increase by 0.2%.

The calendar adjusted turnover increased by 0.6% compared to the same month of 2021.

A growth was seen in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ by 6.5% and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ by 2.9%. A drop was noted in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ by 5.4%.

The Industrial Production Index decreased by 2.0% in October 2022 compared to September 2022. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to previous month decrease was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 24.5% and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 6.2%, while an increase was seen in the manufacturing - by 0.4%.

In October 2022 the calendar adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 5.7% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

A growth compared to October 2021 was registered in the manufacturing - by 14.2%, while a decline was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 30.0% and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.1%.

In the third quarter of 2022, the National Statistical Institute continued conducting an additional survey to the Household Budget Survey in order to carry out quarterly monitoring of changes in the living conditions of households as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, by the project  ‘Income and Living Conditions (ILC) - Statistical infrastructure under IESS - SILC 2022, module Collection of annual data for 2021 and 2022’ under Grant Agreement with the European Commission № 101052273 - 2021-BG-ILC-SILC. For the study, 5 719 persons aged 16 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 response to the growing need for statistical data on the prevalence of violence against women, the National Statistical Institute has joined a project initiated by the European Commission to conduct a survey and provide such information. The aim is to provide reliable, comparable, representative data on the prevalence, frequency, intensity and severity of violence against women at а national level and in the EU Member States, using a common and harmonised methodology.

Data from the survey show that among women aged 18 - 74:

• 11.9% have experienced at least one act of physical or sexual violence at some point in their adult lives, no matter who the perpetrator is or what the relationship is between them;
• 20.5% have experienced one or more acts of intimate partner violence. Includes psychological, sexual and physical violence (including threats);
• Young women (aged 18 - 29) are at the highest risk of intimate partner violence. One in three women aged 18 - 29 has been abused by a current or former partner (36.3%);
• Almost one out of ten women (9.5%) has experienced physical (including threats) or sexual violence by persons in the household;
• 12.2% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work by a man with whom they are in a professional relationship;
• 28% have experienced physical or emotional violence from one of their parents in childhood;
• Two out of three women consider that violence against women by their intimate partners is very or fairly common in Bulgaria.

GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 1.7% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the third quarter of 2021, according to the preliminary data.

In the third quarter of 2022, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.3% and gross value added (GVA) by 3.1% compared to the third quarter of 2021 (data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted).

The increase in gross value added is determined by the growth in the following economic activities:

Mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, waste management and remediation activities - 17.7% on an annual basis, Professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities - 1.4%, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities - also by 1.4%, Financial and insurance activities - 0.8%, Real estate activities - by 0.6%. A decline was registered in Construction by 13.4%, in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities - by 0.7%, and Arts, entertainment and recreation, repair of household goods and other services - by 0.1%.

Regarding the components of the final use, the impact on the registered economic growth in the third quarter of 2022 had the final consumption with an increase of 4.1% on an annual basis. Exports of goods and services increased by 11.1% and imports of goods and services increased by 9.3% compared to the third quarter of 2021.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 6.2% in October 2022 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.9%, while in the manufacturing the prices rose by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 8.8% in October 2022 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 16.0%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.2%, while in the manufacturing the prices rose by 1.0%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 41.7% in October 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. Significant growth was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 97.8%, in the manufacturing by 20.8%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 4.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 55.4% compared to October 2021. Prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 94.1%, in manufacturing by 28.9% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 9.2%.

In October 2022, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 599.5 thousand or by 15.3% above the registered in October 2021.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) in October 2022 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 42.3%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purpose - 35.4%, and with professional purpose - 22.3%.

In October 2022, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 847.1 thousand or 49.2% more in comparison with October 2021. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 38.7% (327.7 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In November 2022, the total business climate indicator increases by 3.5 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. A growth of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and in services.

In all sectors, the uncertain economic environment remains the main obstacle for the activity of the enterprises.

In September 2022, compared to August 2022, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 17.4%. A decrease is reported for the production of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 37.9%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 27.3%, transport diesel by - 14.5%, electricity - by 10.1%. No change for the production of  natural gas.

In  September 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel - by 31.8%, solid fuels - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0%, liquefied petroleum gases by 11.1%, electricity - by 7.5%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 6.5%.

In September 2022, compared to August 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 17.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 13.0%, natural gas - by 2.2%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 17.4%, electricity - by 9.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 6.7%.

In September 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 20.0%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 13.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 32.5%, transport diesel - by 8.7%, electricity - by 2.5%, solid fuels - by 1.7%.