Press releases

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%.

In September 2023, 3 214 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 139.7 thousand rooms and 315.6 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with September 2022, the accommodation establishments increased by 2.9% and the bed-places in them - by 4.1%.

The total number of nights spent was 2 923.9 thousand, or by 15.9% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 16.6% and reached 910.5 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 217.5 million BGN, or by 31.1% more compared to a year before.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 8.5% compared to the period January - September 2022 and amounted to 21 802.9 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 20.7% and added up to 28 707.7 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - September 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (14.2%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (13.8%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (36.9%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (17.6%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (14.4%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (40.2%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 63 860.5 million BGN in the period January - September 2023, which is 7.9% less 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 71 790.5 million BGN and dropped by 10.4%.

In the period January - August 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 6.6% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 37 525.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 0.6% and is worth to 38 489.2 million BGN.

In August 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 11.1% compared to the corresponding month of the previous  year  and  amounted  to 4 370.9 million  BGN,  while  the imports  fell  by 5.2% and added up to 4 480.6 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - August 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (14.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (70.9%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (16.6%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (66.3%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.