Household income, expenditure and consumption - Fourth quarter of 2025

Household Income

The quarterly total income average per household member was 3 687 BGN during the fourth quarter of 2025 and increased by 9.4% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

The highest relative share of income within the structure of the total income was the one from wages and salaries (58.3%). The relative share of income from pensions was 29.6%, and from self-employment - 7.6%. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, the relative share of income from wages and salaries increased by 3.9 percentage points (pp) and the share from pensions decreased by 0.6 percentage points.

In nominal terms, during the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to the same quarter of 2024, the average income per capita by source of income changed as follows:

• from wages and salaries it increased from 1 835 BGN to 2 149 BGN (by 17.1%);
• from self-employment it increased from 260 to 282 BGN (by 8.4%);
• from pensions it increased from 1 019 BGN to 1 090 BGN (by 7.0%);
• from social benefits it decreased from 69 BGN to 56 BGN (by 18.8%).

The relative share of monetary income in the structure of the total income during the fourth quarter of 2025 was 99.6% and the share of income in kind was 0.4%.

Household Expenditure

The quarterly total expenditure average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2025 was 3 203 BGN and it increased by 5.6% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

The greatest share in the formation of the total expenditure was the expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages - 29.6%, as well as the expenditure on taxes and social insurance contributions - 15.8%, on housing - 15.0%, and on transport and communication - 11.3%.

The relative share of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 0.3 pp compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 and the share of taxes and social insurance contributions increased by 1.8 percentage points. The share of housing decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to the same quarter of 2024, as absolute values, the average per capita expenditure by group changed as follows:

• on food and non-alcoholic beverages it increased from 888 BGN to 948 BGN (by 6.8%);
• on alcoholic beverages and tobacco it increased from 123 BGN to 139 BGN (by 12.6%);
• on clothing and footwear it decreased from 125 BGN to 100 BGN (by 20.0%);
• on housing (water, electricity, heating, furnishing and maintenance of the house) it increased from 469 BGN to 480 BGN (by 2.3%);
• on health it decreased from 182 BGN to 181 BGN (by 0.7%);
• on transport and communication it increased from 348 BGN to 363 BGN (by 4.1%);
• on recreation, culture and education it decreased from 157 BGN to 152 BGN (by 2.9%);
• on taxes and social insurance contributions it increased from 425 BGN to 506 BGN (by 19.1%).

Household Consumption

The consumption of main food products on average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of 2024 changed as follows:

• An increase was registered in eggs consumption - from 41 to 42 eggs, in vegetables - from 17.2 to 17.3 kg and in potatoes - from 6.7 to 6.8 kilograms;
• The biggest decrease was seen in bread and paste products consumption - from 17.4 kg to 16.8 kg and in fruit - from 14.4 to 13.7 kilograms;
• The consumption of meat products and dry beans remainеd unchanged (Table 1).

Methodological notes

The source of data is the quarterly household budget survey. It is a sample survey. The sample used for the survey is a random sample of 3 060 households.

A regular household consists of two or more persons living in one dwelling or part of a dwelling, having their meals together and having a common budget, irrespective of whether they are relatives. A household is also one person living alone, having meals separately and having his/her separate budget.

The household budgets survey does not study institutional households.

The main indicators for income, expenditure and consumption are estimated quarterly and annually as average values and relative share.

Household income in cash and kind includes all receipts of household members from wages and salaries, pensions, entrepreneurship, unemployment benefits, social benefits, etc. Other regular or irregular transfers from other households and property sales are also included.

Household expenditure includes expenditure for food, beverages, tobacco, housing (water, electricity, heating, furnishing and maintenance), transport, communications, health, taxes, social insurance contributions, etc.

Consumption average per household member includes the quantities of foods and beverages consumed at home and does not include consumption in public catering establishments.