Press releases

Тhe exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 44.6% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 31 034.6 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 33.1% and reached 28 758.2 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same period of 2021 was recorded in sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (291.3%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (188.2%). Fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (17.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (208.6%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports to the EU increased by 50.1% in June 2022 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 5 689.6 million BGN, while the imports grew by 45.5% and added up to 5 457.6 million BGN.

In the period January - July 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 36.6% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 17 772.2 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 67.5% and added up to 27 696.4 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the same period of 2021 was recorded in the sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (228.7%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (69.7%). Fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’^[1] (12.9%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (335.1%) and ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (151.7%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

In the period January - July 2022, the total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 54 288.1 million BGN, which is 41.7% 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 61 649.2 million BGN and grew by 46.5%.

In August 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2022 compared to August 2021 was 17.7%.

In August 2022, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+5.2%), Miscellaneous goods and services (+2.3%) and Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (+1.8%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Transport (-3.8%) and Clothing and footwear (-2.3%).

In August 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.8% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in August 2022 compared to August 2021 was 15.0%.

In July 2022, 3 615 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 144.0 thousand rooms and 327.9 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with July 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 18.2% and the bed-places in them - by 16.0%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in July 2022 was 5 385.2 thousand, or by 26.7% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In July 2022, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 18.2% compared to the same month of 2021, and reached 1 322.3 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in July 2022 increased by 46.7% compared to July 2021 and reached 386.6 million BGN. An increase in revenues from both foreigners by 64.5% and Bulgarians - by 18.4% was registered.

Тhe index of production in section ‘Construction’ decreased by 0.5% in July 2022 compared to the previous month. The production index of civil engineering fell by 0.7% and production of building construction - by 0.4%.

As compared to July 2021 the index of production in construction decreased by 1.1%. In building construction, a decrease of 3.1% was registered, while in civil engineering an increase of 0.5% was observed.

In July 2022 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices kept the level of the previous month.

A decrease of 3.5% was reported in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’.

An increase by 2.0 and 1.2% was registered in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ and ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’, respectively.

The calendar adjusted turnover decreased by 0.7% in July 2022 as compared to the same month of 2021.

A decline of 10.2% was observed in ‘Retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco’.

An increase of 5.0% was registered in ‘Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ and by 4.0% in ‘Retail sale of non-food products (except fuel)’

The Industrial Production Index increased by 0.9% in July 2022 compared to June 2022. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

An increase compared to the previous month was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 12.7%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 3.9%, and a decrease in manufacturing - by 1.6%.

In July 2022, the calendar adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 17.7% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

Growth compared to July 2021 was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 51.7%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 17.9% and in manufacturing - by 12.1%.

In the second quarter of 2022, the National Statistical Institute continued conducting an additional survey to the Household Budget Survey in order to carry out quarterly monitoring of changes in the living conditions of households as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, under ‘Income and Living Conditions (ILC) - Statistical infrastructure under IESS - SILC 2022 module - 2021 and 2022 Infra-annual data collection’ project, which implementation is in accordance with Grant Agreement with the European Commission No. 101052273 - 2021-BG-ILC-SILC. For the study, 5 740 persons aged 16 and over from 3 053 households were surveyed.

The results of the additional survey can be viewed in the press releases under the heading "Income, expenditure and consumption of households".

GDP per person employed increased in real terms by 2.6% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021, аccording to the preliminary data.

GDP per person employed is 10 946.5 BGN and GDP per hour worked is 27.4 BGN.

Тhe structure of employment by economic sector 2022 shows increase in the relative share of service sector and decrease in agriculture and industrial sectors in the second quarter of 2022 compared with the second quarter of 2021.

In the second quarter of 2022, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.0% and gross value added (GVA) by 4.5% compared to the second quarter of 2021 (data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted).

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

Mining and quarrying; manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply; water supply, waste management and remediation activities - 11.9%, Information and communication - 5.6%, Professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities  - 5.2%, Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; accommodation and food service activities - 4.7%, Financial and insurance activities - 3.9%, while in Construction is observed decline of 16.4% on an annual basis.

Regarding the components of the final use, the impact for the registered economic growth in the second quarter of 2022 is the final consumption with an increase of 5.2% on an annual basis. Exports of goods and services increased by 10.4% and imports of goods and services increased by 16.7% compared to the second quarter of 2021.