Press releases

The press release ‘Key Indicators for Bulgaria’ provides general economic and financial information for the country. The scope of the material includes indicators from the following thematic areas:

• Output
• Private consumption
• Investment
• Labour market
• International transactions
• Prices (Inflation rate, House price indices)
• Monetary and financial indicators

The analytical material is updated quarterly, according to the Calendar for dissemination of statistical survey results. Annual data for the indicators included in the survey are published in a separate application in the first half of each calendar year. The sources of the information are the National Statistical Institute and the Bulgarian National Bank. The information in the press release is current as of the date of publication.

The Total Producer Price Index increased by 8.7% in August 2022 compared to the previous month. Higher prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 28.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 5.6%, while lower prices were observed in the manufacturing by 1.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 12.5% compared to July 2022. The domestic prices went up in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 26.5%, and in mining and quarrying industry by 5.3%. Prices fell in the manufacturing by 1.1%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 50.3% in August 2022 compared to the same month of 2021. The prices went up in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 130.6%, in the manufacturing by 22.7%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 9.0%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 68.2% compared to August 2021. Prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 129.2%, in manufacturing by 29.7% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 12.0%.

In September 2022, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.8 percentage points in comparison with the previous month.

An increase of the indicator is observed in industry, retail trade and service sector. Only in construction, the business climate is decreased.

In all sectors, the most serious problem for the business development remains the uncertain economic environment.

In August 2022, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 744.9 thousand or by 18.9% above the registered in August 2021.  

The trips with holiday and recreation purpose in August 2022 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.7%, followed by those with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sports events) - 39.6%, and with professional purpose - 15.7%.

In August 2022, the number of visits by foreigners to Bulgaria was 1 897.3 thousand or 23.4% more in comparison with August 2021. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 37.3% (707.7 thousand) of all visits of foreigners to Bulgaria.

In July 2022, compared to June 2022, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 16.1%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 11.1%, transport diesel - by 6.9%, electricity - by 4.2% and unleaded motor gasoline - by 3.2%. A decrease is reported only for the production of natural gas - by 50.0%.

In July 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel - by 54.0%, solid fuels - by 39.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 33.9%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.0% and electricity - by 9.6%. A decrease is reported only for the production of natural gas - by 50.0%.

In July 2022, compared to June 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 18.2%, solid fuels - by 14.2%, electricity - by 8.3%, natural gas - by 5.0% and transport diesel - by 1.9%. A decrease is reported only for the deliveries of unleaded motor gasoline - by 37.9%.

In July 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 34.2% and liquefied petroleum gases - by 11.4%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 28.0%, natural gas - by 27.0%, transport diesel - by 14.3% and electricity - by 4.8%.

By 14.4% rose the total hourly labour cost for the second quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021 (preliminary data of the NSI). The total hourly labour cost increased by 15.0% in industry, 16.8% in services and 11.5% in construction.

The breakdown by economic activities showed that the highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Administrative and support service activities’ - by 22.5%, ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’, ‘Other service activities’ - by 19.4% each, and ‘Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ by 18.2%.

In 2020, Bulgaria spent 21 924.4 million BGN for social protection benefits. Тo financing social protection in the country, 11 142.3 million BGN were allocated from the state budget while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 13 578.4 million BGN.

In 2020 the social protection benefits by function are:

• “Sickness/Healthcare” - 6 587.9 million BGN;
• “Disability” - 1 864.6 million BGN;
• “Old age” - 9 289.0 million BGN;
• “Survivors” - 1 087.3 million BGN;
• “Family/Children” - 1 974.8 million BGN;
• “Unemployment” - 821.3 million BGN;
• “Жилищни нужди” - 0.57 million BGN;
• “Social exclusion n.e.c.” - 298.9 million BGN.

The ‘Old age’ function with its major component expenditure for pensions had the highest share (42.4%) in total expenditure. The ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ and ‘Family/Children’ functions also had a significant share of total expenditure - 30.0% and 9.0% respectively.

More information and data on receipts and expenditure for social protection can be found on the website of NSI, section ‘Social protection’ (https://www.nsi.bg/bg/node/4061) and on the Information System ‘Infostat’ (https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/module.jsf?x_2=45).

In August 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2022 compared to August 2021 was 17.7%.

In August 2022, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+5.2%), Miscellaneous goods and services (+2.3%) and Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (+1.8%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Transport (-3.8%) and Clothing and footwear (-2.3%).

In August 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.8% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2022 compared to August 2021 was 15.0%.

In the period January - July 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 36.6% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 17 772.2 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 67.5% and added up to 27 696.4 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the same period of 2021 was recorded in the sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (228.7%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (69.7%). Fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’^[1] (12.9%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (335.1%) and ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (151.7%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

In the period January - July 2022, the total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 54 288.1 million BGN, which is 41.7% more than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 61 649.2 million BGN and grew by 46.5%.

Тhe exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 44.6% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 31 034.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 33.1% and reached 28 758.2 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same period of 2021 was recorded in sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (291.3%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (188.2%). Fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (17.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (208.6%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports to the EU increased by 50.1% in June 2022 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 5 689.6 million BGN, while the imports grew by 45.5% and added up to 5 457.6 million BGN.