Statistical data

In the first quarter of 2015 the unemployment rate was 10.6%, and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 65.0%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of March 2015 the number of employees under labour contract increased by 1.2% as compared to the end of December 2014 and reached 2.23 millions.

In the first quarter of 2015 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2014 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 1.4% getting 859 BGN.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2015 is 2.0% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

The consumer price index in April 2015 compared to March 2015 was 100.7%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.7%.

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2014 was 794 with 30 524 places in them. The number of places in the country has increased with 404, or with 1.3% compared to the previous year.

The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 31 489. 16 167 of them were boys, and - 15 322 girls.

The coverage of children brought up in crèches at the end of 2014 was 15.8%.

The index of producer prices in agriculture in the first quarter of 2015 decreased by 5.1% in comparison with the same quarter of 2014 and increased with by 0.6% compared to 2014.

The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the first quarter of 2015 was 4.1% below the level in the same quarter of 2014 and with 4.9% compared to 2014.

In March 2015, 1 983 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed places were functioned in the country. The total number of the rooms in them was 56.4 thousands and the bed-places were 113.1 thousands. In comparison with March 2014 the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 3.9% and the bed-places in them - by 3.0%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in March 2015 was 666.2 thousands or by 5.0% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The total revenues from nights spent in March 2015 reached 32.1 million BGN or by 2.5% less compared to March 2014.

In period January - February 2015 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 12.2% compared to the same period of the  previous year and amounted to 4.5 Billion BGN while the imports grew by 3.3% and added up to 5.0 Billion BGN.

In February 2015 the exports to the EU increased by 7.7% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and added up to 2.2 Billion BGN while the imports grew by 6.5% and amounted to 2.6 Billion BGN.

In the period January - March 2015 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 14.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 3.9 Billion BGN while the imports increased by 2.1% and added up to 4.5 Billion BGN.

In the period January - March 2015  the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 10.7 Billion BGN and compared to the corresponding period of 2014 the exports increased by 12.7% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 12.3 Billion BGN and increased by 5.2%.