Press releases

In January 2019, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 402.3 thousand or by 3.8% above the registered in January 2018. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in January 2019 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 48.4%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 25.9%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 25.7%.

In January 2019, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 554.3 thousand or by 1.9% more in comparison with January 2018. In January 2019, the predominant share of the visits with holiday and recreation purpose was 43.2%, followed by trips with other purposes - 39.1%, and with professional purpose - 17.7%.

According to the preliminary data for the fourth quarter of 2018 the total turnover index in section ‘Transportation, storage and post’, calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data increased by 1.9% compared to the third quarter of 2018. In section ‘Information and communication’ the turnover index grew by 1.7%.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, 1 095.4 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority (84.1%) of them travelled only within the country, 14.5% - only abroad and 1.4% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2017 the total number of the travelled persons aged 15 and over decreased by 17.6%.

The producer price index in agriculture in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased by 2.9% in comparison with the same quarter of 2017. The crop output index increased by 4.5%, while the prices of animal output went down - by 4.0%. In comparison with previous year the prices of agricultural output went down by 1.8% as result of the drop down of the prices in crop output - by 1.4% and in animal output - by 3.3%

The index of prices of goods and services currently consumed in agriculture in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased by 3.6% compared to the same quarter of previous year and by 3.8% compared to 2017.

According to the preliminary data of the NSI, the consumer price index in January 2019 compared to December 2018 was 100.5%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.5%.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2018 increased by 0.2% in the EU-28 compared to the previous quarter by seasonally adjusted data. For the same period, GDP in Bulgaria increased by 0.7%.

The total income average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2018 is 1 557 BGN and increases by 7.5% compared to the same quarter of 2017.

The total expenditure average per household member during the fourth quarter of 2018 is 1 509 BGN and increases by 10.3% in comparison to the same quarter of 2017.

The consumption of main food products average per household member is without considerable change during the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the same quarter of 2017.

In the fourth quarter of 2018 the unemployment rate was 4.7% and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 72.5%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, the GDP growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2018 is 3.1% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute at the end of December 2018 the number of employees under labour contract decreased by 1.1% as compared to the end of September 2018 and reached 2.29 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2018 in comparison with the third quarter of 2018 the average monthly wages and salaries increased by 4.8% getting 1 171 BGN.