In February 2017 the total business climate indicator preserves approximately its level from the previous month. An improvement of the business conjuncture is registered in construction and service sector, while in industry and retail trade a reduction is observed.
The producer price index in agriculture in the fourth quarter of 2016 decreased by 5.1% in comparison with the same quarter of 2015. The crop output index decreased by 4.2%, as well the animal output index - by 11.2%. In comparison with previous year the prices of agricultural output went down by 3.3% due to the fall in crop output price index - by 2.6% and in animal output price index - by 7.3%.
The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 1.2% below the level in the same quarter of previous year and by 3.2% compared to 2015.
According to preliminary data during the fourth quarter of 2016 in comparison with the same period of 2015 there was an increase both in the goods carried and in the transport performance by the freight land and water transport.
In the fourth quarter of 2016 the transported passengers by passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) increased by 2.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, while the transport performance decreased by 7.8%.
According to the preliminary data for the fourth quarter of 2016 the total turnover index in section ‘Transportation, storage and post’, calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data increased by 3.1% compared to the third quarter of 2016. In section ‘Information and communication’ the turnover index grew by 4.0%.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, 833.5 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (90.2%) of them travelled only within the country, 8.6% - only abroad and 1.2% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2015 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over increased by 10.4%. An increase was observed in the number of the Bulgarian residents travelled in the country - by 17.4%, while the number of persons travelled both in the country and abroad and travelled only abroad decreased by 53.4% and 22.6% respectively.
The total income average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2016 is 1 325 BGN and increases by 5.0% compared to the same quarter of 2015.
The total expenditure average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2016 is 1 209 BGN and increases by 4.1% in comparison with the same quarter of 2015.
According to the preliminary data of the NSI, the consumer price index in January 2017 compared to December 2016 was 101.3%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 1.3%.
According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of December 2016 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 1.7% as compared to the end of September 2016 and reached 2.27 million.
In the fourth quarter of 2016 in comparison with the third quarter of 2016 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 5.2% getting 990 BGN.
In the fourth quarter of 2016 the unemployment rate was 6.7% and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 67.7%.
According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2016 is 3.4% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.