Statistical data

In August 2024, 3 720 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation, with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country with 147.8 thousand rooms and 338.9 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments increased by 0.5%, and the bed-places in them - by 0.3%.

The total number of nights spent was 6.3 million, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 4.1% and reached 1.6 million.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 581.9 million BGN, or by 11.3% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Turnover Indices in Retail trade by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

In August 2024, 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 reported in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 1.1% and ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 0.6%. ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ kept the level of the previous month.

The trade turnover rose by 4.9% compared to August 2023 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In August 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase in turnover was registered in the ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 10.2% and in the ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 4.7%. А decrease was reported in the ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 6.4%.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Services Production Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

In July 2024, the total production index in Services of the business economy increased by 1.2% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to July 2023, an increase of 8.5% was registered in the calendar-adjusted index according to preliminary data.

In the second quarter of 2024:

• Тhe Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.1% compared to the second quarter of 2023.
• 69.2% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.
• The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP was 17.2%.
• The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.2%.
• The unemployment rate was 4.3% (compared to 4.6% in the second quarter of 2023), 4.4% for men and 4.1% for women, respectively.
• Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the total hourly labour cost rose by 15.4% (preliminary data).
• Compared to the second quarter of 2023, housing prices increased by 15.1%.

In July 2024, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 5.6 percentage points compared to its April 2024 level.

For August 2024, the reported revenues of subsector ‘Central Government’ amounted to BGN 4 168,08 million and the expenditures - BGN 4 762,09 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 840,20 million and the expenditures were BGN 2 846,33 million.

The data for 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 for 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'.

In September 2024, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous month, as a result of the more unfavourable business climate in the industry sector.

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.

From July 2024, NSI started publishing Producer Prices Indices in Industry by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 0.4% in August 2024 compared to the previous month. An increase of 9.0% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, while the prices in the mining and quarrying industry fell by 1.9%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 1.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 1.0% in August 2024 compared to July 2024. The domestic prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 4.7%, while in the mining and quarrying industry they decreased by 3.2%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.9%.

The Total Producer Price Index went up by 1.5% in August 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 9.1%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 7.7%. There was a decline in prices in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 1.9% compared to August 2023. A growth was reported in the mining and quarrying industry - by 14.3%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 5.4%. A decrease was observed in the manufacturing industry - by 1.3%.

In July 2024, compared to June 2024, an increase is reported in the production of: electricity - by 42.1%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 8.3%. The production of solid fuels significantly increased - by 2.6 times, due to lower production in June 2024 and the electricity market situation, as currently reaches its usual levels. A decrease is reported in the production of motor gasoline - by 2.1%. There is no change in the production of transport diesel and natural gas.

Compared to July 2023, an increase is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 7.8%, electricity - by 4.3%, and transport diesel - by 1.4%. The production of liquefied petroleum gases significantly increased - by 2.2 times, due to higher demand and reduced imports. A decrease is reported in the production of motor gasoline - by 17.2%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In July 2024, compared to June 2024, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 27.0%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 23.1%, and electricity - by 10.7%. The deliveries of solid fuels significantly increased - by 2.5 times, as a result of the growth in their production and the electricity market situation. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: natural gas - by 15.8%, and motor gasoline - by 1.7%.

Compared to July 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of electricity - by 4.0%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 17.4%, natural gas - by 14.0%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 7.7%, transport diesel - by 2.3% and solid fuels - by 2.0%.

In the period January - June 2024, the electricity and natural gas prices, including all taxes, levies and VAT for non-household customers decreased compared to the period July - December 2023. The largest decrease in electricity was recorded in group I6 with annual consumption between 70 000 and 150 000 MWh (20.0%), and in natural gas in group I4 with annual consumption between 100 000 and 1 000 000 GJ (20.0%).

In the same period, for household customers, different trends are observed for the two energy products. The natural gas prices, including all taxes, levies and VAT, decrease in all groups compared to the previous six-month period, with the largest decrease in group D1- the smallest consumers (14.8%). 

The electricity prices, including all taxes, levies and VAT, show minor changes (increase and decrease) compared to the previous six-month period, ranging from -1.2% to +0.4% depending on the group of annual consumption.

Data are representative for the country - all suppliers of electricity/natural gas provide data on household and final non-household customers, for the quantities delivered through а transmission/distribution network. They are calculated as weighted average prices by the actual delivered quantities of electricity/natural gas and the corresponding invoiced values to final customers, by standard annual consumption bands,  for the observed six-month period.

The information is published pursuant to REGULATION (EU) 2016/1952 on European statistics on natural gas and electricity prices.

Detailed data on electricity and natural gas prices are published on the NSI website under the heading ‘Energy’.

In August 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 903.4 thousand, or 8.3% above the registered in August 2023. Аn increase was registered in the trips with holiday and recreation purposes - by 19.6%, and with professional purposes - by 3.0%, while those with other purposes (as a guest, education, and visiting cultural and sports events) decreased by 3.6%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 2 135.7 thousand, or 2.8% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. Аn increase was registered in the trips with holiday and recreation purposes - by 6.2%, while those with professional purposes and with other purposes decreased by 2.3% and 0.5%, respectively.

Transit passes through the country were 38.3% (818.6 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.