In 2021, Luxembourg and Ireland recorded the highest level of GDP per capita in the EU, at 177% and 121% above the EU average. Bulgaria was the Member State with the lowest GDP per capita, at 45% below the EU average.
Preliminary data of the NSI for the fourth quarter of 2021 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
In 2021 the unemployment rate was 5.3%.
The employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 years was 73.2%.
The consumer price index in February 2022 compared to January 2022 was 101.4%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 1.4%.
In 2021, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 26.3% compared to 2020 and amounted to 45 266.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods to Bulgaria from the EU grew by 26.7% and reached 46 338.0 million BGN.
In December 2021, the exports to the EU increased by 43.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 3 889.6 million BGN, while the imports grew by 40.8% and added up to 4 489.0 million BGN.
In January 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 38.1% compared to January 2021 and amounted to 2 002.8 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 81.8% and added up to 3 491.1 million BGN.
In January 2022, the total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 6 246.7 million BGN, which is 31.2% more than the same month of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 7 636.5 million BGN and grew by 51.2%.
In January 2022, during the continuing epidemic situation, 1 702 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 50.8 thousand and the bed-places were 102.8 thousand. In comparison with January 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 4.2% and the bed-places in them - by 7.9%.
The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in January 2022 was 702.0 thousand, or by 51.4% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.
The total revenues from nights spent in January 2022 reached 48.5 million BGN and increased by 86.6% compared to the same month of the previous year.
According to the preliminary data, in January 2022 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data was 0.7% below the level of the previous month. In January 2022, the calendar adjusted index of production in construction increased by 2.2% in comparison with the same month of 2021.
According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in January 2022 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.0% compared to the previous month. The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 11.1% compared to the same month of the previous year.
According to the preliminary data in January 2022, the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, increased by 1.9% compared to December 2021.
In January 2022, the calendar adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 16.5% in comparison with the same month of 2021.