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Consumer Survey, January 2024

Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - 11:00

In January 2024, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 6.7 percentage points compared to its October 2023 level. An increase of consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants - by 8.8 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively, is reported.

Statistical domain

Newly Built Residential Buildings and Dwellings Completed in the Fourth Quarter of 2023 (preliminary data)

Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - 11:00

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute in the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 529, and the newly built dwellings in them were 6 350. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, the buildings were by 57 less (or by 3.6%), and the newly built dwellings in them increased by 1 101, or by 21.0%.

76.8% of the newly built residential buildings had steel-concrete construction, 19.5% had solid structure, 3.3% had ‘other’ and 0.4% had a panel. The highest is the relative share of houses (78.3%), followed by blocks of flats (14.1%).

The highest is the number of residential buildings built in the district of Sofia (stolitsa) - 267 residential buildings with 1 823 dwellings, followed by Plovdiv - 230 residential buildings with 636 dwellings, and Varna - 174 buildings with 1 390 dwellings in them.

The highest is the number of newly built dwellings with two rooms (38.9%), followed by the number of those with three rooms (34.4%), and the lowest is the number of dwellings with five rooms (4.8%).

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the total useful space of newly built dwellings was 644.4 thousand sq. m, or by 10.3% more, compared to the same quarter of 2022, and the living floor space increased (by 10.9%) to 504.5 thousand sq. meters.

The average useful floor space of a newly built dwelling decreased from 111.3 sq. m in the fourth quarter of 2022 to 101.5 sq. m in the same quarter of 2023.

The biggest average useful floor space of a newly built dwelling was recorded in the districts of Silistra - 227.8 sq. m, and Gabrovo - 171.4 sq. m, and the smallest ones in Montana - 71.1 sq. m, and Varna - 72.4 sq. meters.

Statistical domain

Turnover Indices in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’, December 2023

Tuesday, 6 February 2024 - 11:00

In December 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.6% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A decrease was registered in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.7%, and there was an increase by 1.1% in ‘Food, beverages and tobacco’, while the turnover in ‘Automotive fuel in specialised stores’ kept the level of the previous month.

The calendar-adjusted turnover grew by 0.7% compared to the same month in 2022.

A rise by 9.2% was observed in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’. Decrease was registered in ‘Automotive fuel in specialised stores’ and in ‘Non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 3.6% and 3.2%, respectively.

Building Permits Issued, and Construction of New Buildings Started in the Fourth Quarter of 2023

Friday, 2 February 2024 - 11:00

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 2 275 residential buildings with 16 788 dwellings, 22 administrative buildings/offices and 1 261 other buildings.

The issued building permits for new residential buildings increased by 19.0% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The issued building permits for administrative buildings and other buildings rose by 22.2% and 6.6% respectively.

The construction of 1 535 residential buildings with 7 382 dwellings, 8 administrative buildings/offices and 641 other buildings was started.

As compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, the number of started new residential buildings and other buildings increased by 22.6% and 15.5% respectively. The number of started administrative buildings decreased by 42.9%.

Fiscal data by 'Central Government' and 'Social Security Funds' subsectors, December 2023

Friday, 2 February 2024 - 11:00

In December 2023, revenues of the subsector ‘Central Government’ were reported in the amount of BGN 5 320.24 million and expenditures - BGN 9 674.51 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 658.54 million, and the expenditures are BGN 2 867.70 million.

The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

Business Conjuncture, January 2024

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 - 11:00

In January 2024, the total business climate indicator increases by 3.0 percentage points in comparison with December 2023, as a growth of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and services.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, insufficient demand and costs of materials continue to be the main factors limiting the business development in the sectors.

Statistical domain

Producer Price Indices in Industry, December 2023

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 - 11:00

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 0.6% in December 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the manufacturing industry by 0.8%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 0.4%. The mining and quarrying industry marked a rise of 2.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 0.4% in December compared to November 2023. The domestic prices went down in the manufacturing industry by 0.7% and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 0.3%, while in the mining and quarrying industry the prices increased by 0.8%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 14.6% in December 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 40.4%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.6%. An increase by 0.3% was observed in the manufacturing industry.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 19.8% compared to December 2022. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 39.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.0%, while in the manufacturing industry the prices went up by 0.1%.

Fiscal data by subsectors of ‘General Government’ sector, third quarter of 2023

Monday, 29 January 2024 - 14:15

The data for the third quarter of 2023 have been published for revenues, expenses and deficit/surplus of the ‘General Government’ sector by sub-sectors: sub-sector ‘Central Government’, sub-sector ‘Local Government’ and sub-sector ‘Social Insurance Funds’, in accordance with Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

The data are based on cash reports and trial balances on an accrual basis of the budgetary units, as well as quarterly data on the public enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

Gross domestic product (GDP) - regional level in 2022

Monday, 29 January 2024 - 11:00

In 2022, Yugozapaden region has the biggest share (48.9%) in the GDP of Bulgaria, while Severozapaden region has the lowest share (6.7%) in the GDP of the country.

In 2022, the highest level of GDP per capita is in Sofia (stolitsa) - 53 746 BGN, compared to the average 25 956 BGN for the country.

The NSI publishes data for Gross value added and GDP by regions and by economic sectors, according to common definitions and concepts used in the development of a standard system of national accounts for the country and underpin the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Gross Domestic Product (GDP)'.

Trips of Bulgarian residents abroad and arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria in December 2023

Monday, 29 January 2024 - 11:00

In December 2023, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 649.1 thousand, or 7.3% above the registered in December 2022.

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 - 44.8%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 33.5%, and with professional purpose - 21.7%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 785.4 thousand, or 3.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The predominant share of the visits was with other purposes - 57.3%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 29.0%, and with professional purpose - 13.7%.

Transit passes through the country were 36.5% (286.5 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

Statistical domain