Press releases

The annual total income average per capita is 9 008 BGN in 2022, an increase of 16.9% compared to 2021.

Bulgarian households spent an average of 8 389 BGN per capita in 2022, or 19.1% more compared to 2021.

The consumption of most basic food products average per household member in 2022 decreased compared to 2021. The biggest decrease is in the consumption of bread and paste products - by 2.6 kg, of fruit - by 2.8 kg, and vegetables - by 0.8 kg.

The purchasing power of households decreases for most kinds of food in 2022. The biggest decrease in purchasing power is observed for sigar, eggs, white cheese, yellow cheese and bread.

In March 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.5% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2023 compared to March 2022 was 14.0%.

In March 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Miscellaneous goods and services (+2.9%), Restaurants and hotels (+1.2%), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+1.1%), Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (+1.0%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.9%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-0.8%), Transport (-0.7%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.5%) and Recreation and culture (-0.5%).

In March 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.6% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2023 compared to March 2022 was 12.1%.

In January 2023 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 19.3% compared to the same month of 2022 and amounted to 4 941.8 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 11.1% and reached 4 600.9 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in January 2023 compared to the same month of 2022 was recorded in sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (71.6%) and ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (53.2%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (15.6%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (70.7%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 14.7% compared to the period January - February 2022 and amounted to 5 181.8 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 2.6% and added up to 6 989.6 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - February 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (80.8%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (58.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (23.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (104.8%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (53.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (19.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 14 769.3 million BGN in the period January - February 2023, which is 13.9% more than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 16 458.6 million BGN and grew by 7.2%.

In February 2023, 27 072 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 60.2 thousand rooms and 124.0 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with February 2022, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 23.7% and the bed-places in them - by 22.5%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in February 2023 was 1 195.9 thousand, or by 50.6% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In February 2023, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 48.7% compared to the same month of 2022 and reached 470.2 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in February 2023 reached 92.4 million BGN or by 70.6% more compared to February 2022.

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section decreased by 0.7% in February 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of building construction fell by 0.8% and the production of civil engineering - by 0.5%.

Compared to February 2022, the index of production in construction went down by 2.9%. A decrease was seen both in civil engineering - by 4.1%, and in building construction - by 2.0%.

In February 2023, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.5% 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 1.8%, while in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ an increase was observed - by 1.2% and 0.7%, respectively.

The calendar-adjusted turnover went up by 4.3% compared to the same month in 2022.

An increase was seen in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ (7.3%), in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’ (4.9%) and in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’ (2.0%).

The Industrial Production Index increased by 0.6% in February 2023 compared to January 2023. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to the previous month, an increase was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 18.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 3.2%, while in manufacturing there was a decrease in the industrial production - by 2.9%.

In February 2023, a decline of 1.8% was observed in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2022.

Compared to February 2022, a drop was reported in the mining and quarrying industry - by 10.7%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 5.0%, and in manufacturing - by 0.3%.

In January 2023, compared to December 2022, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel by - 29.3%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 16.7%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 5.8%, and electricity - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported only for the production of solid fuels - by 7.2%. No change for the production of natural gas.

In  January 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 75.0%, transport diesel - by 23.3%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 13.0%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0%, solid fuels - by 15.7%, and electricity - by 14.1%.

In January 2023, compared to December 2022, an increase is reported only for the deliveries of electricity - by 3.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 77.3%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 32.7%, solid fuels - by 10.1%, natural gas - by 7.1%, and transport diesel - by 6.7%.

In January 2023, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 23.3%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.6%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 75.6%,  natural gas - by 32.8%, solid fuels - by 20.7%, and electricity - by 5.8%.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.

In January 2023, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 4.0 percentage points compared to October 2022.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, 72.5% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.

The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 54.9%.

Тhe unemployment rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points and stood at 3.9%.

The total hourly labour cost rose by 16.1% for the fourth quarter of 2022.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, the house price index increased by 13.4%.