Statistical data

In March 2023, the total business climate indicator preserves its level from February. A reduction of the indicator is registered in industry, retail trade and service sector, and in construction, an increase is observed.

The uncertain economic environment remains the most serious problem for the business development in all sectors.

In February 2023, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 450.6 thousand or 7.9% above the registered in February 2022.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) in February 2023 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.5%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purpose - 28.5%, and with professional purpose - 27.0%.

In February 2023, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 604.7 thousand or 47.6% more in comparison with February 2022. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 34.6% (209.0 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In 2022, Luxembourg and Ireland recorded the highest level of GDP per capita in the EU, at 161% and 134% above the EU average. Bulgaria was the Member State with the lowest GDP per capita, at 41% below the EU average.

By 16.1% rose the total hourly labour cost for the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 21.3% in industry, 17.8% in services and 11.0% in construction.

The breakdown by economic activities showed that the highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply’ - by 33.3%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 32.9%, and ‘Arts, entertainment and recreation’ - by 25.2%.

According to the results of the survey, in 2022:

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 73.6%, increasing by 1.6 percentage points in comparison with 2021.

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 increased by 2.3 percentage points in comparison with 2021 and reached 70.4%.

- The unemployment rate was 4.3%, or 1.0 percentage point lower in comparison with 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 through a face-to-face interview.

In February 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.8% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in February 2023 compared to February 2022 was 16.0%.

In February 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.4%), Communications (+1.9%), Restaurants and hotels (+1.1%), Recreation and culture (1.1%) and Health (+1.0%). The largest decrease was recorded in the prices for Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-1.2%), Clothing and footwear (-1.2%) and Transport (-0.4%).

In February 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.7% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in February 2023 compared to February 2022 was 13.7%.

Тhe exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 35.6% compared to 2021 and amounted to 61 380.4 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 29.3% and reached 59 899.6 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to 2021 was recorded in sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (126.0%) and ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (116.9%). A fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (9.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (81.8%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports to the EU increased by 11.6% in December 2022 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 350.4 million BGN, while the imports grew by 9.0% and added up to 4 897.7 million BGN.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 24.4% compared to January 2022 and amounted to 2 634.4 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 0.8% and added up to 3 539.0 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to January 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (99.5%) and ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (92.5%) (Annex, Table 4). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (30.2%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (391.0%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (33.7%) (Annex, Table 4). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material’^[1] (19.3%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 7 689.1 million BGN in January 2023, which is 22.8% more than the same month of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 8 178.7 million BGN and grew by 6.9%.

In January 2023, 2 066 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 59.3 thousand rooms and 121.7 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with January 2022, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 21.4% and the bed-places in them - by 18.4%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in January 2023 was 1 032.4 thousand, or by 47.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In January 2023, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 50.6% compared to the same month of 2022 and reached 439.5 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in January 2023 reached 77.6 million BGN or by 60.1% more compared to January 2022.

Тhe index of production in the ‘Construction’ section increased by 0.8% in January 2023 compared to the previous month. The production of civil engineering rose by 1.0% and the production of building construction - by 0.8%.

Compared to January 2022, the index of production in construction went down by 0.4%. In civil engineering, a decrease of 3.1% was registered, while in building construction an increase of 1.6% was observed.