According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2019 is 3.5% compared with the same quarter of 2018 according to the preliminary estimates.
According to preliminary data during the first quarter of 2019 in comparison with the same period of 2018 there was a decrease both in the goods carried and in the transport performance by the freight land and water transport.
In the first quarter of 2019 the transported passengers and the transport performance by passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) increased compared to the same period of the previous year, respectively by 2.5% and 6.0%.
In March 2019 compared to February 2019 an increase is reported for the production of natural gas - by 50.0%. During the same period, a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 23.5%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 11.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 39.9%, transport diesel - by 27.0%, and electricity - by 4.4%.
In March 2019 compared to February 2019 an increase is reported for the deliveries of unleaded motor gasoline - by 11.1% and transport diesel - by 23.0%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 22.7%, natural gas - by 10.5% and electricity - by 4.7%. No change for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gasses.
Total Producer Price Index in April 2019 increased with 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2018 the prices rose by 4.3%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in April 2019 rose by 0.4% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2018 the domestic prices grew by 4.0%.
In May 2019, the total business climate indicator increases by 1.3 percentage points compared to the previous month, which is due to the improved business conjuncture in construction and retail trade.
In April 2019, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 620.8 thousand or by 2.4% above the registered in April 2018. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in April 2019 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 42.1%, followed by those with professional purpose - 29.5%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 28.4%.
In April 2019, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 731.5 thousand or by 4.2% more in comparison with April 2018. In April 2019, the predominant share of the visits with other purposes was 40.4%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purpose - 39.0%, and with professional purpose - 20.6%.
According to the preliminary data for the first quarter of 2019 the total turnover index in section ‘Transportation, storage and post’, calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data increased by 6.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. In section ‘Information and communication’ the turnover index grew by 7.5%.
In the first quarter of 2019, 929.0 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (78.4%) of them travelled only within the country, 17.7% - only abroad and 3.9% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2018 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over decreased by 7.3%.
The total income average per household member during the first quarter of 2019 is 1 519 BGN and increases by 8.0% compared to the same quarter of 2018.
The total expenditure average per household member during the first quarter of 2019 is 1 403 BGN and increases by 11.0% in comparison to the same quarter of 2018.
The consumption of main food products average per household member does not change considerable during the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same quarter of 2018.