Press releases

In the fourth quarter of 2015 the unemployment rate was 7.9%, and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 68.1%.

According to the preliminary data of the NSI, the consumer price index in January 2016 compared to December 2015 was 100.0%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.0%.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of December 2015 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 2.2% as compared to the end of September 2015 and reached 2.22 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2015 in comparison with the third quarter of 2015 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 4.7% getting 915 BGN.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2015 is 3.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute in the fourth quarter of 2015 the number of newly built residential buildings was 661 and the newly built dwellings in them was 2 180. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2014 the buildings were by 59 less (or by 8.2%) and the newly built dwellings in them decreased by 115 or by 5.0%. 

In December 2015, 1 969 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 57.0 thousands and the bed-places were 114.9 thousands. In comparison with December 2014 the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) decreased by 2.3% and the bed-places in them - by 1.2%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in December 2015 was 713.8 thousands, or by 1.4% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The total revenues from nights spent in December 2015 reached 36.2 million BGN or by 2.9% more compared to December 2014.

In 2015 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 0.6% compared to 2014 and amounted to 16.4 Billion BGN while the imports decreased by 5.9 and added up to 18.4 Billion BGN.

In 2015 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 45.5 Billion BGN and compared to 2014 the exports grew by 5.2% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 51.7 Billion BGN and increased by 1.1%.

In period January - November 2015 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 8.3% compared to the same period of the previous year and amounted to 26.9 Billion BGN while the imports grew by 5.9% and added up to 30.4 Billion BGN.

In November 2015 the exports to the EU increased by 1.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and added up to 2.474 Billion BGN while the imports grew by 7.8% and amounted to 3.048 Billion BGN.

According to the preliminary data, in December 2015 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 0.1% above the level of the previous month. In December 2015 the working day adjusted index of production in construction increased by 0.7% in comparison with the same month of 2014.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in December 2015 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.2% compared to the previous month.