The preliminary data show that the Industrial Production Index seasonally adjusted decreased by 2.3% in March 2013 as compared to February 2013. The working day adjusted Industrial Production Index fall by 3.6% in comparison with the same month of 2012.
In the period January - February 2013 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 17.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year and amounted to 4.0 Billion Levs while the imports from EU grew by 7.0% and added up to 4.5 Billion Levs.
In February 2013 the exports to the EU increased by 17.8% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded 1.9 Billion Levs while the imports grew by 16.8% and amounted to 2.5 Billion Levs.
In the first quarter of 2013, the municipal authorities have issued building permits for construction of 764 residential buildings with 1 877 dwellings, of 32 administrative buildings/offices and 903 other buildings. The construction of 399 residential buildings with 1 513 dwellings, of 22 administrative buildings/offices and 355 other buildings has been started.
The main results of the yearly exhaustive surveys that characterize the activity of the educational institutions, conducted by the National Statistical Institute (NSI), are:
• The number of children in kindergartens for 2012/2013 was 235.0 thousand as an increase of 3.1% is observed in comparison with the previous school year.
• In 2012, 30.3 and 29.4 thousand students graduated secondary education in respectively general and vocational schools.
• For the 2012/2013 academic year, the number of enrollments in higher education remained almost unchanged in comparison with the previous academic year - 278.6 thousand persons as a decrease in the number of students in colleges (education-qualification degree "Professional Bachelor") and in private universities is registered.
• Significant increase of the number of Ph.D. students is observed. As of 31.12.2012, 5 371 Ph.D. students were enrolled in the country, or 14.2% more than the previous academic year.
In March 2013 compared to February 2013 an increase is reported for the production of natural gas by 18.2%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels by 51.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 23.3%, transport diesel - by 10.9%, and electricity - by 3.3%. No change is reported for the production of liquefied petroleum gases.
Deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases in March 2013 compared to February 2013 increase by 11.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 2.5%, transport diesel - by 18.7%, natural gas - by 0.3% and electricity - by 2.5%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels by 49.7%.
Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in March 2013 decreased by 1.1% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2012 the domestic prices grew by 0.6%. Total Producer Price Index fell by 0.8% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2012 the prices went up by 0.5%.
In April 2013 the total business climate indicator decreases by 0.6 percentage points compared to its level from the previous month, as only in industry the drop of the indicator is observed (by 4.2 percentage points). In construction and service sector the business climate rises by 4.4 and 0.6 percentage points respectively and in retail trade keeps approximately its March level.
In March 2013 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 308.8 thousand or by 0.2% above the registered in March 2012. The trips with other purposes (as guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 56.7%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 27.5% and with holiday and recreation purposes - 15.8%.
In March 2013, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 352.7 thousand which was by 4.7% above the level from March 2012. An increase in the visit with holiday and recreation purpose - by 10.6% and with professional purpose - by 11.8% was registered, while the arrivals with other purposes decreased by 3.7%.
The market price index of the dwellings for the first quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 was 99.1%, i.e. the average decrease of the market prices of the dwellings was 0.9%.
On the basis of preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute the General Government Sector reported in 2012 government deficit of 624 Million BGN or 0.8% of GDP. The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2012 is 14 390 Million BGN or 18.5% of GDP.