Press releases

The total export price index during the third quarter of 2023 by sections of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) is 90.4%, which is a 38.7 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period by sections of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) is 94.5%, which is a 27.6 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

Price indices of exports and imports by sectors of the Standard Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading ‘Еxports-and-imports-price-indices’.

In the third quarter of 2023, compared to the third quarter of 2022, the total hourly labour cost rose by 15.1% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 16.6% in industry, 13.9% in services and 17.0% in construction.

The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Education’ - by 21.9%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 18.8%, and ‘Transportation and storage’ - by 17.4%.

According to the first estimate of Economic Accounts for Agriculture, the final output of the agricultural 'industry' at basic prices in 2023 amounted to 10 445.9 million BGN. Gross value added at basic prices decreased by 30.4% on an annual basis and reached 4 118.8 million BGN, and net entrepreneurial income amounted to 1 067.3 million BGN.

Tourist consumption in Bulgaria in 2021 was estimated at 5 714.34 million BGN. Inbound tourism expenditures from foreign citizens visiting the country were 77.8% (4 443.74 million BGN), while the domestic tourism expenditures by Bulgarian citizens traveling within the country amounted to 22.2% (1 270.6 million BGN). Accommodation services represented the largest component both in inbound and domestic tourism.

Outbound tourism expenditures by Bulgarian citizens traveling abroad in 2021 were 2 118.52 million BGN. The largest relative shares were attributed to food and beverage serving services - 38.7%, and transportation services - 38.4%.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Tourism' and in the ‘INFOSTAT’ information system.

In 2021, the total value of investments and current expenditures for environmental protection and restoration is 2 643 million BGN, which is 7% more than the previous year. Compared to 2020, the level of investments increased (7.4%), and the level of current expenditures decreased (6.9%). The value of the investments made in 2021 is 704 million BGN. Current expenditures in 2021 account for 73.3% of total environmental expenditures (1 939 million BGN).

Expenditures for protecting and restoring the environment include the expenditures of acquiring tangible and intangible assets (investments) and the expenditures of maintaining/operating them, including environmental measures (running expenditures). The largest share of the total expenditures is spent on waste recovery and disposal (58%), air cleanliness (17%) and wastewater treatment (16%).

The expenditures of environmental protection and restoration are part of the total expenditure of tangible and intangible fixed assets. In 2021, the share of expenditure available at the end of the year for acquisition of tangible and intangible fixed assets with ecological use amounts to 3.5% of the total expenditure for acquisition of tangible and intangible fixed assets in the country.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Environment'.

In November 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.3% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in November 2023 compared to November 2022 was 5.4%.

An increase was registered for Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+1.4%), Recreation and culture (+1.4%), Restaurants and hotels (+0.7%), Health (+0.4%). The highest decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-0.9%), Transport (-0.6%), Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (-0.2%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.2% and the annual inflation rate was 5.5%.

Consumption per capita varied between 69% and 138% of the EU average. Between 2020 and 2022, Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) levels increased in 18 EU countries, most notably in Bulgaria (from 60% in 2020 to 69% in 2022 of the EU average).

In the period January - September  2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 7.3% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 42 162.9 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 1.8% and reached  43 117.7 million BGN.

In September 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 13.9% compared to the corresponding month of the previous  year  and  amounted  to  4 575.8  million  BGN, while the imports  fell  by 11.2% and added up to 4 598.1 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - September 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (12.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (68.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (13.9%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (65.9%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 1.5% compared to the period January - October 2022 and amounted to 26 280.3 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 21.0% and added up to 32 181.8 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - October 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Food and live animals’ (22.2%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (22.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (30.6%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (17.7%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (14.0%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (45.0%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 73 001.3 million BGN in the period January - October 2023, which is 6.0% 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 80 440.5 million BGN and dropped by 10.5%.

In October 2023, 2 232 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 70.7 thousand rooms and 150.6 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with October 2022, the accommodation establishments increased by 1.4% and the bed-places in them - by 5.5%.

The total number of nights spent was 1 066.6 thousand, or by 4.4% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 1.8% and reached 493.4 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 83.8 million BGN, or by 17.7% more compared to a year before.