Press releases

In the third quarter of 2022, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.3% and gross value added (GVA) by 3.1% compared to the third quarter of 2021 (data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted).

The increase in gross value added is determined by the growth in the following economic activities:

Mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, waste management and remediation activities - 17.7% on an annual basis, Professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities - 1.4%, Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities - also by 1.4%, Financial and insurance activities - 0.8%, Real estate activities - by 0.6%. A decline was registered in Construction by 13.4%, in Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities - by 0.7%, and Arts, entertainment and recreation, repair of household goods and other services - by 0.1%.

Regarding the components of the final use, the impact on the registered economic growth in the third quarter of 2022 had the final consumption with an increase of 4.1% on an annual basis. Exports of goods and services increased by 11.1% and imports of goods and services increased by 9.3% compared to the third quarter of 2021.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 6.2% in October 2022 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.3%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.9%, while in the manufacturing the prices rose by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 8.8% in October 2022 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 16.0%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.2%, while in the manufacturing the prices rose by 1.0%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 41.7% in October 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. Significant growth was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 97.8%, in the manufacturing by 20.8%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 4.2%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 55.4% compared to October 2021. Prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 94.1%, in manufacturing by 28.9% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 9.2%.

In October 2022, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 599.5 thousand or by 15.3% above the registered in October 2021.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) in October 2022 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 42.3%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purpose - 35.4%, and with professional purpose - 22.3%.

In October 2022, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 847.1 thousand or 49.2% more in comparison with October 2021. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 38.7% (327.7 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In November 2022, the total business climate indicator increases by 3.5 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. A growth of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and in services.

In all sectors, the uncertain economic environment remains the main obstacle for the activity of the enterprises.

In September 2022, compared to August 2022, an increase is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 17.4%. A decrease is reported for the production of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 37.9%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 27.3%, transport diesel by - 14.5%, electricity - by 10.1%. No change for the production of  natural gas.

In  September 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel - by 31.8%, solid fuels - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0%, liquefied petroleum gases by 11.1%, electricity - by 7.5%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 6.5%.

In September 2022, compared to August 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 17.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 13.0%, natural gas - by 2.2%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 17.4%, electricity - by 9.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 6.7%.

In September 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 20.0%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 13.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 32.5%, transport diesel - by 8.7%, electricity - by 2.5%, solid fuels - by 1.7%.

The goods carried and the transport performance by the freight land and water transport increased by 7.2% and 4.6% during the third quarter of 2022 in comparison with the same quarter of 2021. The data are preliminary.

By 11.9% rose the number of transported passengers by the passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) in the third quarter of 2022. The transport performance also increased by 43.2%.

Freight land transport

The transported goods by the land transport were by 8.8% more and the transport performance rose by 6.4% than the same quarter of 2021.

Freight water transport

Both the transported goods and the transport performance by the water transport decreased by 41.8% and 48.3%.

Passengers land transport

The number of the transported passengers was by 9.7% more and the transport performance rose by 47.2% compared to the third quarter of 2021.

Passengers water transport

In the third quarter of 2022, there was an increase of the transported passengers from the water transport by 15.4 thousand passengers as well in the transport performance by 907.2 thousand pkm.

Urban electrical transport

During the period July - September of 2022 the enterprises performing urban electrical transport transported by 15.6% more passengers. The transport performance increased by 15.2%.

The total turnover index in the section ‘Transportation, storage and post’ rose by 7.5% for the third quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter. In the section ‘Information and communication’ the turnover index increased by 1.7%. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

During the third quarter of 2022, the total turnover index in the section ‘Transportation, storage and post’ increased by 42.5% compared to the same quarter of 2021. The total turnover index in the section ‘Information and communication’ rose by 14.0%. The data are preliminary and calendar adjusted.

In the third quarter of 2022, 1 748.8 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority - 78.5% of them travelled only within the country, 16.3% - only abroad and 5.2% - both within the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2021, the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over increased by 31.7%.

According to the results of the survey, in the third quarter of 2022:

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 74.7%, increasing by 1.8 percentage points in comparison with the third quarter of 2021.

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 increased by 2.4 percentage points in comparison with the same quarter of 2021 and reached 71.9%.

- The unemployment rate was 3.7%, or 0.9 percentage points lower in comparison with the third quarter of 2021.

The Labour Force Survey is a sample statistical survey. It is carried out over a sample of non-institutional households. Quarterly, 19.6 thousand households, randomly selected, are observed.

The total income average per household member during the third quarter of 2022 is 2 346 BGN and increases by 21.1% compared to the same quarter of 2021.

The total expenditure average per household member during the third quarter of 2022 is 2 239 BGN and increases by 23.8% compared to the same quarter of 2021.

The consumption of most basic food products average per household member during the third quarter of 2022 decreased compared to the same quarter of 2021. The biggest decrease is in the consumption of bread and paste products - from 19.0 kg to 18.6 kg and fruit - from 20.1 kg to 19.1 kg.