Press releases

In the period January - February 2016 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 0.3% compared to the same period of 2015 and amounted to 2.360 Billion BGN while the imports decreased by 17.7% and added up to 2.427 Billion BGN.

In the period January - February 2016 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 6.9 Billion BGN and in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year the exports grew by 1.4% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 7.3 Billion BGN and decreased by 7.7%.

In February 2016, 1 875 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed places were functioned in the country. The total number of the rooms in them was 54.7 thousand and the bed-places were 110.8 thousand. In comparison with February 2015 the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) decreased by 5.9% and the bed-places in them - by 1.9%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in February 2016 was 903.5 thousand, or by 16.8% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in February 2016 reached 42.8 million BGN or by 16.2% more compared to February 2015.

According to the preliminary data, in February 2016 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 2.7% above the level of the previous month. In February 2016 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 1.9% in comparison with the same month of 2015.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in February 2016 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 0.2% in February 2016 as compared to January 2016. In February 2016 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 2.1% in comparison with the same month of 2015.

In January 2016 compared to December 2015 an increase of the production of liquefied petroleum gases - by 12.5%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 11.5%, transport diesel - by 8.7%, natural gas - by 16.7%, and electricity - by 4.9%, is reported. At the same time a decrease of the production of solid fuels - by 4.4% is reported.

In January 2016 compared to December 2015 an increase of the deliveries of natural gas - by 11.8%, and electricity - by 17.0%, is reported. At the same time a decrease of the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 40.0%, and transport diesel - by 43.0% is reported. No change for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases is reported. 

Total Producer Price Index in February 2016 declined by 0.5% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the prices went down by 5.2%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in February 2016 decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2015 the domestic prices fell by 4.0%. 

In March 2016 the total business climate indicator increases by 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous month which is due to the more favourable managers’ opinions in industry, construction and retail trade.

In February 2016, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 281.4 thousand or by 9.8% above the registered in February 2015. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in February 2016 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 52.2%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 25.4%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - 22.4%.

In February 2016, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 361.9 thousand or by 9.7% above the level of February 2015. An increase was registered in the trips by all observed purposes: with holiday and recreation purpose - by 20.8%, with professional purpose - by 4.2%, and with other purposes - by 1.3%.