Press releases

The housing prices were increased by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The highest increase was recorded in Varna (+7.9%), followed by Plovdiv (+6.8%) and Sofia (+4.9%). The decrease was registered in Stara Zagora (-2.2%) and Burgas (-1.1%).

In the second quarter of 2023, compared to the second quarter of 2022, the housing prices rose by 10.7%.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Housing price statistics'.

In the second quarter of 2023, compared to the second quarter of 2022, the total hourly labour cost rose by 13.8% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 19.3% in industry, 13.7% in services and 16.1% in construction.

The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 24.0%, ‘Manufacturing’ - by 20.1%, and ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ - by 18.3%.

In 2021, Bulgaria spent 25 415.8 million BGN for social protection benefits. Тo financing social protection in the country, 13 896.9 million BGN were allocated from the state budget, while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 15 117.8 million BGN.

In 2021, the social protection benefits by function are:

• ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ - 7 420.7 million BGN;
• ‘Disability’ - 2 186.5 million BGN;
• ‘Old age’ - 11 289.1 million BGN;
• ‘Survivors’ - 1 253.1 million BGN;
• ‘Family/Children’ - 2 161.3 million BGN;
• ‘Unemployment’ - 701.2 million BGN;
• ‘Жилищни нужди’ - 0.62 million BGN;
• ‘Social exclusion n.e.c.’ - 403.3 million BGN.

The ‘Old age’ function with its major component expenditure for pensions had the highest share (44.4%) in total expenditure. The ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ and ‘Disability’ functions also had a significant share of total expenditure - 29.2% and 8.6%, 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/en/content/4061/social-protection) and on the Information System ‘Infostat’ (https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/module.jsf?x_2=45).        

In August 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.4% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2023 compared to August 2022 was 7.7%.

In August 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was recorded in the prices for Transport (+4.6%), Health (+0.6%), Restaurants and hotels (+0.6%) and Miscellaneous goods and services (+0.4%). The decrease was registered for Clothing and footwear (-2.3%), Communications (-0.6%) and Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.3%).

In August 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.5% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2023 compared to August 2022 was 7.5%.

Adult Education Survey is conducted every 5 years in all EU member states through a common methodology and a harmonized questionnaire in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) № 2019/1700 of 10 October 2019.

According to the survey, 637.9 thousand persons (18.9%) aged 25 - 64 participated in at least one non-formal training in the last 12 months. Compared with the previous survey wave, there was a decrease of 3.6 percentage points. While almost every third person (31.1%) with a tertiary education has participated in at least one non-formal training, this share is 4.7% for those with a basic or lower education.

In formal education in the last 12 months were enrolled 81 thousand persons (or 2.4%). Of all persons enrolled in formal education or training, the highest share was of those enrolled for acquiring Master’s degree - 35.3 thousand persons, or 43.5%.

In informal learning in the last 12 months were participated 1 481.6 thousand people, or 43.8% of the population aged 25 - 64. Women were more active than men, 46.9% and 40.81%, respectively.

Over the past 12 months, 218.3 thousand (6.5%) aged 25 - 64 had searched information on education and training possibilities and 183.4 thousand (84.0%) of them have found opportunities for inclusion in education or training.

The main obstacles for participation in education and training were: lack of free time (36.1%), too high costs for the educational program (22.5%) and family responsibilities (10.4%).

At least one foreign language use 47.9% of the population in active labour age (25 - 64). The largest share of used foreign languages was: English - 30.4%, followed by Russian (14.8%), German (4.8%) and French (1.9%).

Slightly more than a third of the population (36.5%) read newspapers every day (including electronic issues). Of those with basic or lower education, 9.0% read newspapers daily, and 37.8% and 47.9% among those with upper-secondary and tertiary education.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 4.6% compared to the period January - July 2022 and amounted to 17 592.7 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 20.0% and added up to 22 011.8 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - July 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (29.0%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (21.3%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (38.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Food and live animals’ (18.1%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (16.6%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (39.8%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 50 746.8 million BGN in the period January - July 2023, which is 5.5% less 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 56 020.4 million BGN and dropped by 8.9%.

In the period January - June 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 5.4% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 28 367.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 1.0% and reached 29 281.2 million BGN.

In June 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 13.3% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 729.6 million BGN, while the imports fell by 13.0% and added up to 4 834.4 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - June 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (16.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (71.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (20.7%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (65.5%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

Тhe exported goods amounted to 92 917.8 million BGN or 35.8% more than in 2021. The imported goods were for 107 912.8 million BGN, which is 40.6% more than the previous year.

The largest growth in the exports of goods compared to 2021 was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (159.1%). Fall was not observed in any of the sections. The largest growth in the imports of goods was registered in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (222.1%) and again fall was not observed in any of the sections. Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

In July 2023, 3 697 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 149.5 thousand rooms and 339.3 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with July 2022, the accommodation establishments increased by 2.3% and the bed-places in them - by 3.5%.

The total number of nights spent was 5 819.6 thousand, or by 8.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 9.0% and reached 1 441.3 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 454.5 million BGN, or by 17.6% more compared to a year before.

In July 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

The turnover was noted a decrease in all major groups: in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 4.6%, in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.9% and in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 0.3%. 

The calendar-adjusted turnover went up by 1.6% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was observed in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (8.7%), while in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ and in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’, a decrease was registered - by 1.9% and by 0.6%, respectively.