The producer price index in Forestry increased by 14.5% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the previous year, as a result of an increase in both the prices of wood in the rough from coniferous - by 4.8%, and the prices of wood in the rough from non-coniferous - by 22.3%.
Compared to the same quarter of 2022 there is 12.3% increase in prices of wood in the rough.
Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Forestry'.
According to data from the Household Budget Survey, the quarterly total income average per household member during the third quarter of 2023 is 2 874 BGN and increases by 22.5% compared to the same quarter of 2022.
The quarterly total expenditure average per household member during the third quarter of 2023 is 2 714 BGN and increases by 21.2% compared to the same quarter of 2022.
The consumption of most basic food products on average per household member during the third quarter of 2023 decreased compared to the same quarter of 2022. The biggest decrease is in vegetable consumption - from 26.1 kg to 24.9 kg, bread and paste products - from 18.6 kg to 18.0 kg and fruit - from 19.1 kg to 18.7 kg.
In October 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 0.4% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in October 2023 compared to October 2022 was 5.8%.
An increase was registered for Recreation and culture (+6.7%), Clothing and footwear (+5.7%), Education (+1.1%) and Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (+0.8%). The highest decrease was recorded in the prices for Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.4%), Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.4%) and Transport (-0.3%).
The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) was 0.2% and the annual inflation rate was 5.9%.
The producer price index in agriculture for the third quarter of 2023 decreased by 24.9% in comparison with the same quarter of 2022 as a result of an decrease in the price index of crop output by 30.5% and an increase in the index of animal output by 10.5%.
Compared to the previous year, the prices of agricultural output decreased by 23.8%, as in crop output they decreased by 29.9% and in animal output they increased by 13.9%.
In crop output, in the third quarter of 2023, compared to the same quarter of 2022, the highest drop was recorded in the prices of cereals - by 37.1%. The trend also retained in comparison with 2022, with the decrease in cereals - by 35.5%.
In animal output, in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022, the prices of live animals increased by 21.2%, and of animal products output - by 0.7%. Compared to 2022, the increase was by 28.3% and 0.8%, respectively.
The price index of products and services currently consumed in agriculture for the third quarter of 2023 was lower by 10.8% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 7.6% compared to 2022.
The biggest decrease, compared to the third quarter of 2023, was observed in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 44.9%, electricity - by 8.5%, and plant protection preparations - by 5.4%.
Compared to the previous year, the biggest decrease was in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 41.7%, electricity - by 3.5%, and plant protection preparations - by 3.3%.
According to the seasonally adjusted data, GDP had a growth rate of 1.7% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Demographic projections (population perspective projections) are calculations done under settled in advance conditions for the future development of fertility, mortality and migration. They give an idea of population development during the projected period. The projections concern the development of the population up to 2090, taking into account the number of the population, the number of live births and deaths, and the number of immigrants and emigrants. The population is distributed by sex and age for each year of the period. Three different scenarios for the population projections are used, depending on the expected social-economic development of the country.
The first variant is defined as realistic and prepared according to the EU’s regulations on the demographic and socio-economic development of Member States. Under this variant, by 2075, the country's population will decrease to 4 972 thousand, or below 5 million. The population aged 65 and over will be 25.5%, and the age dependency ratio - 69.1, or for every 100 persons of the active age population, there will be 69 persons of dependent age - under 15 and over 64 years.
The other two scenarios are developed under the hypotheses that demographic development will take place during favourable and, respectively, unfavourable socio-economic processes in the country.
Data on the population projection can be found under the heading 'Population and demographic projections'.
The number of employees under labour contract at the end of September 2023 decreased by 1.5% compared to the end of June 2023 and reached 2.30 million according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The highest decrease was observed in economic activities: ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 15.8%, ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 2.7%, and ‘Manufacturing’ - by 1.4%. The highest increase of the number of employees by 1.1% was recorded in economic activity ‘Human health and social work activities’.
In the third quarter of 2023, in comparison with the second quarter of 2023, the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 2.2% and reached 2 000 BGN. The highest increase in wages and salaries was reported in ‘Public administration and defence; compulsory social security’ - by 13.4%, ‘Education’ - by 12.2%, and in ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’ - by 7.5%.
In September 2023, the index of production in the ‘Construction’ section decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The production of building construction fell by 0.4% and the production of civil engineering - by 0.3%. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.
The calendar-adjusted data showed a decrease of 1.9% in construction production compared to the same month of 2022. A decrease was registered both in civil engineering - by 3.7%, and in building construction - by 0.4%.
In September 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.
An increase was noted in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 3.3%, while in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ was observed a decrease by 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.
The calendar-adjusted turnover was unchanged compared to the same month in 2022.
An increase was reported in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (4.4%) and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (3.2%). A decrease was registered in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ (3.3%).
The Industrial Production Index went down by 2.7% in September 2023 compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.
A drop was seen in the mining and quarrying industry - by 3.2%, in the manufacturing - by 3.1%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.5%.
In comparison with September 2022, a drop of 11.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index.
On an annual basis, a drop in the Industrial Production Index was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 31.8%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 17.2%, and in the manufacturing - by 7.7%.