Press releases

In the period January - April 2017 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 22.1% compared to the same period of 2016 and amounted to 5 653.2 Million BGN while the imports grew by 38.5% and added up to 6 870.5 Million BGN.

In the period January - April 2017 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 16 072.4 Million BGN and in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year the exports increased by 13.0% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 18 627.4 Million BGN and grew by 19.9%.

In the period January - March 2017 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 12.2% compared to the same period of 2016 and amounted to 7 915.2 Million BGN while the imports grew by 11.4% and added up to 8 773.0 Million BGN.

In March 2017 the exports to the EU increased by 18.1% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and added up to 2 960.6 Million BGN while the imports grew by 10.1% and amounted to 3 309.6 Million BGN.

According to the preliminary data, in April 2017 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 1.8% below the level of the previous month. In April 2017 the working day adjusted index of production in construction increased by 2.0% in comparison with the same month of 2016.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in April 2017 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.5% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 1.2% in April 2017 as compared to March 2017. In April 2017 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 4.8% in comparison with the same month of 2016.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2017 is 3.5% compared with the same quarter of 2016.

In March 2017 compared to February 2017 a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels by 31.4%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 17.9%, transport diesel - by 23.3%, natural gas - by 9.1% and electricity - by 2.5%. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In March 2017 compared to February 2017 an increase is reported for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.2%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 33.3%, and transport diesel - by 12.9%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 29.8%, natural gas - by 13.2% and electricity - by 10.2%. 

Total Producer Price Index in April 2017 increased by 0.9% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2016 the prices rose by 5.4%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in April 2017 grew by 1.3% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2016 the domestic prices went up by 3.9%. 

In May 2017, the total business climate indicator increases by 3.2 percentage points in comparison with April as a growth of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and services.

The producer price index in agriculture in the first quarter of 2017 increased by 4.7% in comparison with the same quarter of 2016. The crop output index increased by 6.7%, as well the animal output index - by 1.8%. In comparison with previous year the prices of agricultural output went up by 6.8% due to the increase in crop output price index - by 7.8% and in animal output price index - by 5.2%.

The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the first quarter of 2017 was 1.4% above the level in the same quarter of previous year and by 1.7% compared to 2016.