Statistical data

By preliminary data from National Statistical Institute (NSI), the number of employees under labour contract at the end of March 2009 decreased by 1.0% as compared to the end of December 2008 and reached to 2.41 millions. In first quarter of 2009 in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2008 the average monthly wages and salaries grew by 2.7% getting 563 levs.

According to the final data of the National Statistical Institute, in 2008 the newly built buildings were 2 926 which is of 8.5 % more than 2008 and the number of the new dwellings in them increased by 10.9% and reached 20 924.

1 957 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 in the first quarter of 2009. The number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments fell by 11.2% in the first quarter of 2009 compared to same period in 2008 and rose to 1 632 thousand.

Preliminary data for March 2009 indicated that construction production rose by 7.3% compared to the previous month but compared to March 2008 the production in construction fell by 4.3%.

In March 2009, by preliminary data Industrial Production Index increased by 7.7 per cent as compared to the previous month, as compared to March 2008 the index decreased by 17.1 per cent. Industrial Turnover Index increased by 4.0 per cent as compared to the previous month, compared to March 2008 industrial turnover decreased by 20.7 per cent.

The regular consumer survey carried out by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) in April 2009 registers increased pessimism in opinions and a decrease of 7.6 percentage points in comparison with January of the consumer confidence indicator.

Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in March 2009 rose 1.1 per cent compared to the previous month, compared to the same month of the previous year domestic prices decreased by 1.1 per cent. Total Producer Price Index increased by 0.2 per cent compared to the previous month, the index fell by 5.5 per cent compared to March 2008.

In April 2009, with the exception of construction, the indicator business climate in the rest of the sectors – industry, retail trade and services – registered an increase in comparison with the previous month. The total indicator increased by 0.6 percentage points.

In March 2009 the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad were 403 718 and decreased by 15.1% in comparison with March 2008.
Arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria in March 2009 were 334 417 and decreased by 7.3% in comparison with the same month of 2008.

In March 2009 the goods carried by the railway transport rised by 1.8% in comparison with the previous month and reached to 1 216.4 thousand tones, while the passengers carried increased by 4.4% to 2 544.5 thousands.