Press releases

The producer price index in agriculture in the first quarter of 2022 increased by 25.6% in comparison with the same quarter of 2021. The price index of crop output increased by 31.2% and the animal output increased by 13.2%. In comparison with the previous year, the prices of agricultural products went up by 21.4%, as in crop output they increased by 25.9%, and animal output - by 11.2%.

The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the first quarter of 2022 was higher by 37.6% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 24.8% compared to 2021.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of March 2022 the number of employees under labour contract increased by 0.4% as compared to the end of December 2021 and reached 2.27 million.

In the first quarter of 2022 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2021 the average monthly wages and salaries decreased by 1.2% getting 1 593 BGN.

In the period January - February 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 29.7% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 8 598.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods to Bulgaria from the EU grew by 30.2% and reached 8 546.4 million BGN.

In February 2022, the exports to the EU increased by 32.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 381.5 million BGN, while the imports grew by 28.0% and added up to 4 397.3 million BGN.

In the period January - March 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 28.3% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 6 761.7 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 58.0% and added up to 10 447.0 million BGN.

In the period January - March 2022, the total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 20 962.2 million BGN, which is 34.0% more than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 24 281.7 million BGN and grew by 41.4%.

In March 2022, during the continuing epidemic situation, 1 717 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. The total number of rooms in them was 51.2 thousand and the bed-places were 104.1 thousand. In comparison with March 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) remained the same and the bed-places in them increased by 5.4%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in March 2022 was 796.6 thousand, or by 81.2% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in March 2022 reached 52.0 million BGN and increased by 111.3% compared to the same month of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data, in March 2022, the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data was 0.4% below the level of the previous month. In March 2022, the calendar adjusted index of production in construction increased by 1.6% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in March 2022, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.6% compared to the previous month. The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 9.6% compared to the same month of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data, in March 2022, the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, increased by 5.0% compared to February 2022.

In March 2022, the calendar adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 19.0% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute in the first quarter of 2022, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 206, and the newly built dwellings in them were 4 299. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, the buildings were by 254 more (or by 26.7%), and the newly built dwellings in them decreased by 174, or by 3.9%.

In April 2022, the survey shows an increase in pessimism in consumers’ assessments and expectations in comparison with January. The total consumer confidence indicator decreases by 4.9 percentage points compared to its level 3 months ago, which is due to the decreased confidence among both rural and urban inhabitants - by 5.7 and 4.6 percentage points, respectively.