Press releases

In March 2023, 2 124 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed-places, functioned in the country with 60.5 thousand rooms and 124.1 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with March 2022, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 23.7% and the bed-places in them - by 19.3%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in March 2023 was 1 027.6 thousand, or by 29.0% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In March 2023, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 31.9% compared to the same month of 2022 and reached 453.1 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in March 2023 reached 79.6 million BGN or by 53.1% more compared to March 2022.

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 0.8% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of building construction rose by 1.0% and the production of civil engineering - by 0.5%.

Compared to March 2022, the index of production in construction went up by 0.3%. An increase was registered in building construction - by 2.4%, while in civil engineering, a decrease of 2.5% was seen.

In March 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 decline in turnover was reported in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 1.6% and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.5%. Аn increase was observed in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.2%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 1.1% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was seen in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (12.3%) and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (1.7%), while in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ was reported a decrease (1.8%).

The Industrial Production Index decreased by 1.2% in March 2023 compared to February 2023. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to the previous month, a drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 11.8%, while an increase was seen in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.8%, and in the manufacturing - by 1.5%.

In March 2023, a decline of 9.0% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to February 2022, a drop was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 39.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 14.3%, and in the manufacturing - by 0.9%.

According to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute in the first quarter of 2023, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 289, and the newly built dwellings in them were 4 427. Compared to the first quarter of 2022, the buildings were by 18 more (or by 1.4%), and the newly built dwellings in them decreased by 153, or by 3.3%.

As of 31 December 2022, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is administratively divided into 28 administrative districts and 265 municipalities, within which there are 3 159 individual mayoralties. Total number of settlements were 5 256, of which 257 towns and 4 999 villages, while the settlement formations were 165 (including 8 of national and 157 of local importance). The largest municipalities with population above 100 000 inhabitants were eight - Stolichna, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Sliven, Pleven and Pazardzhik. The share of the population in these eight municipalities represents 40.7% of the total country’s population.

In April 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 4.2 percentage points in comparison with January. An increase of consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants - by 3.1 and 7.0 percentage points, respectively, is reported.

In the first quarter of 2023, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 1 748 residential buildings with 8 619 dwellings, 19 administrative buildings/offices and 1 035 other buildings.

The issued building permits for new residential buildings and other buildings decreased by 5.5% and 3.4% respectively as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The issued building permits for administrative buildings have shown an increase of 5.6%.

The construction of 1 272 residential buildings with 6 597 dwellings, 8 administrative buildings/offices and 517 other buildings was started.

The number of started new residential buildings increased by 0.2% as compared to the first quarter of 2022. The number of started administrative buildings and other buildings decreased by 27.3% and 9.6% respectively.

In February 2023, compared to January 2023, for the production of energy products, no increase is observed for any of the products. A decrease is reported for the production of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 29.7%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 28.6%, transport diesel by - 28.6%, solid fuels - by 8.7%, and electricity - by 7.3%. No change for the production of natural gas.

In  February 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported only for the production of liquefied petroleum gases - by 66.7%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 15.6%, electricity - by 8.3%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 5.7%. No change for the production of transport diesel.

In February 2023, compared to January 2023, an increase is reported for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases - by 18.9%. A significant increase is observed in unleaded motor gasoline, due to reduced deliveries in January 2023, as currently reaches its usual levels. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 10.9%, transport diesel - by 10.4%, electricity - by 5.4%, and natural gas - by 0.8%.

In February 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 51.7%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 14.7%, transport diesel - by 12.4%, and electricity - by 4.9%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 22.9%, and natural gas - by 18.9%.

In March 2023, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 570.1 thousand or 5.9% above the registered in March 2022.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) in March 2023 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 48.9%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purpose - 29.6%, and with professional purpose - 21.5%.

In March 2023, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 705.6 thousand or 12.4% more in comparison with March 2022. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 33.3% (234.9 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.