Press releases

In the period January - November 2018 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 9.5% compared to the same period of 2017 and amounted to 35 059.0 Million BGN while the imports of goods grew by 6.8% and added up to 36 874.1 Million BGN.

In November 2018 the exports of goods to the EU increased by 7.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 3 445.2 Million BGN while the imports of goods dropped by 0.1% and added up to 3 606.6 Million BGN.

In 2018 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 12.5% compared to 2017 and amounted to 17 550.6 Million BGN while the imports of goods from third countries increased by 7.4% and added up to 23 012.3 Million BGN.

In 2018 the total value of all exported goods to third countries and EU amounted to 55 275.7 Million BGN, which is 1.2% more than 2017, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and EU added up to 62 945.5 Million BGN and grew by 6.3%.

In December 2018, 1 997 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed-places were functioned in the country. The total number of the rooms in them was 59.0 thousand and the bed-places were 119.9 thousand. In comparison with December 2017, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 2.6% and the bed-places in them - by 2.8%.

The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in December 2018 was 844.2 thousand, or by 1.3% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in December 2018 reached 48.4 million BGN or by 9.3% more compared to December 2017.

According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute in the fourth quarter of 2018 the number of newly built residential buildings was 721 and the newly built dwellings in them were 2 345. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 the buildings were by 67 more (or by 10.2%) and the newly built dwellings in them increased by 304 or by 14.9%. 

According to the preliminary data, in December 2018 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 2.4% below the level of the previous month. In December 2018 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 1.4% in comparison with the same month of 2017.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in December 2018 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous month.

According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 2.3% in December 2018 as compared to November 2018. In December 2018 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index fall by 3.8% in comparison with the same month of 2017.

In January 2019, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 1.9 percentage points compared to its October 2018 level, as for the urban population the increase is 1.0 percentage point and for the rural population - 2.9 percentage points.

In the fourth quarter of 2018, the municipal authorities issued building permits for construction of 1 477 residential buildings with 11 682 dwellings, of 33 administrative buildings/offices and 1 319 other buildings. The construction of 935 residential buildings with 5 881 dwellings, of 11 administrative buildings/offices and 624 other buildings was started.

In November 2018 compared to October 2018 an increase is reported for the production of electricity - by 17.1%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 8.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 6.5%, and transport diesel - by 4.4%. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas.

In November 2018 compared to October 2018 an increase is reported for the deliveries of natural gas - by 36.3% and electricity - by 14.7%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 8.3%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.4%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 54.2%, and transport diesel - by 11.8%.