The oldest statistical survey of NSI - the Household Budget Survey, is about to start in February for the 101st time with an updated methodology and organization

In 2026 the National Statistical Institute will conduct for the 101st time its oldest statistical survey - the Household Budget Survey. The survey starts on February 1 and will be conducted for one year with a new methodology and sample, which are in line with the European regulations.

New in the survey:

• 5 580 households from all over the country participate, selected randomly, divided into three subsamples of 1 860 households each. Each household participates in the survey four times within twelve months on a rotational basis.
• The main focus of the household budget survey is on the household expenses, estimates for which will be received and published for the survey year. No information on the quantities of food and beverages consumed by the households will be collected.
• In 2026 for the first time is provided an opportunity for the households to fill out their diaries not only on paper but also electronically.

The data provided by the households will be collected, processed and stored only for the production of statistical information.

In 2026 will be used a new version of the international classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP 2018), which is why there will be a break in the published time series with expenditure estimates.

The Household Budget Survey is the oldest sample statistical survey in Bulgaria. Since its beginning in 1925 until now, it has been the main source for obtaining summarized information on the income, expenditure and consumption of the population in the country.

The household budget survey is carried out in accordance with the requirements of REGULATION (EU) 2019/1700 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 10 October 2019 for establishing a common framework for European statistics relating to persons and households, based on data at individual level collected from samples and the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/2094 of 28 October 2022 specifying the technical items of data sets, establishing the technical formats for transmission of information and specifying the detailed arrangements and content of the quality reports on the organisation of a sample survey in the consumption domain.

We would like to thank all the households in advance for their cooperation!