Press releases

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 1.8% in January 2024 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 6.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.6%, and in the manufacturing industry by 0.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 1.8% in January 2024 compared to December 2023. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 5.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.9%. In the manufacturing industry, the prices grew by 0.4%. 

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 14.2% in January 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 39.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 7.1%, and in the manufacturing industry by 1.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 17.8% compared to January 2023. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 36.8%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 8.2%, and in the manufacturing industry by 0.8%.

In December 2023, compared to November 2023, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 22.1%, electricity - by 21.2%, and transport diesel - by 6.2%. A decrease is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.0%, and motor gasoline - by 9.3%. There is no change for the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of transport diesel - by 12.2%. A decrease is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 34.6%, electricity - by 13.9%, and motor gasoline - by 12.2%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In December 2023, compared to November 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.7%, electricity - by 18.3%, solid fuels - by 16.5%, and natural gas - by 12.3%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 22.4%, and transport diesel - by 19.7%.

Compared to the same month of 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 4.3%, and electricity - by 4.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 30.6%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 20.0%, transport diesel - by 19.7%, and motor gasoline - by 13.6%.

National Statistical Institute has published final 2022 data on research and development (R&D) activity. In 2022, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 265.6 million BGN, which was 17.8% more than the previous year. The personnel engaged in R&D activity amounted to 27 090 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 7.8% more compared to 2021.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading „Research and development activity (R&D)“.

In February 2024, the total business climate indicator preserves approximately its level from the previous month. An increase of the indicator is observed in the industry, while in the construction and retail trade preserves its level from January. Only in the service sector, a reduction is registered.

The most serious obstacles for the activity of the enterprises in the sectors remain connected with the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, costs of materials and insufficient demand.

In January 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 537.5 thousand, or 6.6% above the registered in January 2023.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 50.3%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 27.1%, and with professional purpose - 22.6%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 741.3 thousand, or 4.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The predominant share of the visits was with other purposes - 51.0%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 35.9%, and with professional purpose - 13.1%.

Transit passes through the country were 32.6% (241.9 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the goods carried by freight land and water transport rose by 3.8%, while the transport performance declined by 16.8% in comparison with the same quarter of 2022. The data are preliminary.

The number of passengers carried by the passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) decreased by 5.9%. The transport performance also recorded a decline of 0.3%.

Fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same quarter of 2022:

• The transported goods by land transport increased by 3.2%, while the transport performance dropped by 17.3%.
• The goods carried by sea and inland waterway transport rose by 217.8 thousand tonnes and the transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometres, increased by 19.8%.
• The number of the transported passengers by land transport decreased by 5.7% and the transport performance recorded a drop of 1.4%.
• There was a decrease of 1.8 thousand passengers in the volume of transported passengers by water transport and the transport performance declined by 0.6%.
• The enterprises performing urban electrical transport carried 4.4 thousand passengers less, while the transport performance increased by 6.1%.

In 2023, the Average Annual Gross Wages And Salaries of the employees under labour contract was 24 147 BGN according to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute. In comparison with 2022, the increase was 13.7%, as in the public sector was 14.9% and in the private sector - 13.2%.

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

The turnover index in the section ‘Transportation, storage and post’ increased by 2.9% for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. In the section ‘Information and communication’, an increase of 3.9% was registered. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the turnover index in the section ‘Transportation, storage and post’ decreased by 0.8% compared to the same quarter of 2022. In the section ‘Information and communication’ a growth of 13.8% was reported. The data are preliminary and calendar-adjusted.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the expenditure on acquisition of tangible fixed assets in all sectors of the economy amounted to 10 173 million BGN, which is 50.9% more as compared to the previous quarter. The data are preliminary.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading “Investments”.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, 1 165.5 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority of them - 78.5%, travelled only in the country, 18.2% - only abroad, and 3.3% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2022, the total number of travelled persons aged 15 and over increased by 13.5%.