Statistical data

In the period January - April 2018 the Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 15.6% compared to the same period of 2017 and amounted to 4 774.4 Million BGN while the imports dropped by 2.3% and added up to 6 712.4 Million BGN.

In the period January - April 2018 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 16 633.2 Million BGN and in comparison with the same period of the previous year the exports increased by 3.5% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 19 731.8 Million BGN and grew by 5.8%.

According to the preliminary data, in April 2018 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 0.6% above the level of the previous month. In April 2018 the working day adjusted index of production in construction increased by 0.6% in comparison with the same month of 2017.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in April 2018 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.9% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 2.0% in April 2018 as compared to March 2018. In April 2018 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index went down by 0.8% in comparison with the same month of 2017.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 0.4% in the EU-28 compared to the previous quarter by seasonally adjusted data. For the same period, GDP in Bulgaria increased by 0.9%.

According to the preliminary data, GDP per person employed increased by 2.3% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2018 is 3.6% compared with the same quarter of 2017 according to the preliminary estimates.

In March 2018 compared to February 2018 an increase is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 6.5% and electricity - by 4.9%. Significant drop is observed in the production of petroleum products, which is due to planned repair of production capacities done in March 2018, as a decrease is reported for the production of unleaded motor gasoline - by 99.2% and transport diesel - by 87.0%. No production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In March 2018 compared to February 2018 an increase is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 4.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 22.9%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 16.7%, and transport diesel - by 22.4%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of natural gas - by 5.9% and electricity - by 0.9%.

Total Producer Price Index in April 2018 increases with 0.7% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the prices rose by 2.9%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in April 2018 increased by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the domestic prices grew by 3.8%.

In May 2018, the business conjuncture in the country continues to improve. The total business climate indicator increases by 2.1 percentage points compared to April and reaches new long-term maximum (33.1%) since 2009.