Press releases

In 2021, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 074.0 million BGN, which was 4.9% more than the previous year. The annual growth tendency is retained for the period 2017 - 2021.

R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product) amounted to 0.77% and it was 0.08 percentage points lower than in 2020.

In the structure of R&D expenditure by fields of science in 2021, as in the previous year, the highest share belonged to the R&D expenditure in technical sciences - 51.5% (553.2 million BGN), followed by medical and health sciences with a share of 19.2% (206.7 million BGN) and the natural sciences - 17.4% (187.0 million BGN).

In 2021, the personnel engaged in research and development activity amounted to 25 122 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 3.7% less than the previous year. The share of women in total R&D personnel was 47.5%. The number of researchers in full-time equivalent was 16 230 persons, which was 2.8% less compared to 2020.

In August 2022, compared to July 2022, an increase is reported for the production of liquefied petroleum gases by 10.0%. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 11.0%, electricity - by 1.8%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 0.6%. No change in the production of transport diesel and natural gas.

In August 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel - by 34.9%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 29.8%, and electricity - by 6.8%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0% and solid fuels - by 4.5%. No change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In August 2022, compared to July 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 27.8%, transport diesel - by 15.8%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.4%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 28.0%, solid fuels - by 11.5%, and electricity - by 1.5%.

In August 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.8% and transport diesel - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 30.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 9.8%, solid fuels - by 8.7%, and electricity - by 5.7%.

In October 2022, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.7 percentage points compared to September. A reduction of the indicator is observed in industry, retail trade and service sector, and only in construction an improvement is registered.

In all sectors, the factor, limiting with the most extend the enterprises’ activity remains the uncertain economic environment.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry increased by 6.8% in September 2022 compared to the previous month. Higher prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.6%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 6.5%, and in the manufacturing by 0.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 9.2% in September 2022 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went up in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.0%, and in the manufacturing by 1.7%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 56.8% in September 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. Significant growth was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 148.3%, in the manufacturing by 22.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 17.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 78.1% compared to September 2021. Prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 147.0%, in manufacturing by 31.2% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 14.1%.

In September 2022, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 643.7 thousand or by 11.1% above the registered in September 2021.

The trips with holiday and recreation purpose in September 2022 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 42.3%, followed by those with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sports events) - 39.3%, and with professional purpose - 18.4%.

In September 2022, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 1 112.7 thousand or 44.0% more in comparison with September 2021. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 35.9% (399.2 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In 2021, the government deficit and debt of the EU decreased in relative terms compared with 2020. In 2021, in the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio shrank to -4.6% from -6.7% in 2020. In 2021, the government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased to 87.9% from 89.8% at the end of 2020.

In 2021, the final data from the National Statistical Institute showed that the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -5 414 million BGN, or 3.9% of GDP.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2021 is 33 268 million BGN, representing 23.9% of GDP.

The number of deaths in the third quarter of 2022 (27th - 39th week) is 24 711 and the crude mortality rate is 14.5‰. Mortality among males (15.6‰) is higher than among females (13.5‰). Compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of deaths has decreased by 6 092, or 19.8%.

In September 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in September 2022 compared to September 2021 was 18.7%.

In September 2022, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Education (+5.4%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+4.2%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.3%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Recreation and culture (-4.6%), Transport (-2.9%) and Communications (-1.8%).

In September 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.7% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in September 2022 compared to September 2021 was 15.6%.

In August 2022, 3 624 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 144.3 thousand rooms and 331.7 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with August 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 18.5% and the bed-places in them - by 15.4%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in August 2022 was 6 152.8 thousand, or by 14.8% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In August 2022, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 11.9% compared to the same month of 2021, and reached 1 483.2 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in August 2022 increased by 26.3% compared to August 2021 and reached 451.2 million BGN, as 318.0 million BGN were from foreign citizens and 133.2 million BGN - from Bulgarian residents.