Statistical data

By preliminary seasonally adjusted data in March 2014 the turnover in Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles at constant prices increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index seasonally adjusted decreased by 1.3% in March 2014 as compared to February 2014. The working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 4.2% in comparison with the same month of 2013.

In April 2014 the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 4.8 percentage points in comparison with its January level, as for the urban population the increase is 4.6 percentage points and for the rural population - 5.4 percentage points.

In the first quarter of 2014, the municipal authorities have issued building permits for construction of 1 015 residential buildings with 3 392 dwellings, of 44 administrative buildings/offices and 917 other buildings. The construction of 504 residential buildings with 1 616 dwellings, of 30 administrative buildings/offices and 446 other buildings has been started.

The main results of the yearly exhaustive surveys that characterize the activity of the educational institutions, conducted by the National Statistical Institute, are:

• The number of children in kindergartens for 2013/2014 was 240.6 thousand as an increase of 2.4% is observed in comparison with the previous school year.
• In 2013, 28.9 and 27.4 thousand students graduated secondary education in respectively general and vocational schools.
• For the 2013/2014 academic year, the number of enrollments in higher education remained almost unchanged in comparison with the previous academic year - 277.2 thousand persons as a decrease in the number of students in private universities is registered.
• Significant increase of the number of Ph.D. students is observed. As of 31.12.2013, 6 055 Ph.D. students were enrolled in the country, or 12.7% more than the previous academic year.

In February 2014 compared to January 2014 a decrease of the production of solid fuels - by 22.2%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 12.4%, transport diesel - by 7.5%, natural gas by - 18.2% and electricity - by 9.2% is reported. No change of the production of liquefied petroleum gases is reported.  

In February 2014 compared to January 2014 an increase of the deliveries of unleaded motor gasoline - by 10.3% and transport diesel - by 30.6% is reported. At the same time a decrease for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 21.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 33.3%, natural gas - by 16.7%, and electricity - by 5.5% is reported.  

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in March 2014 declined by 0.2% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2013 the domestic prices fell by 1.6%. Total Producer Price Index decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous month, while compared to the same month of 2013 the prices fell by 2.8%. 

In April 2014 the total business climate indicator increases by 1.7 percentage points compared to its level from the previous month which is due to the improved business climate in industry, construction and retail trade (an increase by 1.4, 6.8 and 0.8 percentage points respectively). Only in service sector a decrease of the indicator is observed (by 1.8 percentage points).

In March 2014, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 313.4 thousand or by 1.5% above the registered in March 2013. The trips with other purposes (as guest, education and visits to cultural and sport events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.5%, followed by the trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 29.0%, and with professional purposes - 26.5%.

In March 2014, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 361.1 thousand which was by 2.4% above the level of March 2013. An increase was registered in the visits with holiday and recreation purposes, and other purposes - by 4.4 and 2.1% respectively, while these with professional purposes decreased by 1.9%.