According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in March 2018 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month.
According to the preliminary data the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, increased by 2.3% in March 2018 as compared to February 2018. In March 2018 the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 1.7% in comparison with the same month of 2017.
In April 2018, the total consumer confidence indicator increases by 1.8 percentage points compared to its January level. An increase of consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants by 1.0 and 4.1 percentage points respectively is reported.
In the first quarter of 2018, the municipal authorities issued building permits for construction of 1 162 residential buildings with 6 247 dwellings, of 26 administrative buildings/offices and 1 026 other buildings. The construction of 723 residential buildings with 4 157 dwellings, of 18 administrative buildings/offices and 467 other buildings was started.
In 2017, the average monthly poverty line for the country is 351.08 BGN per person. The number of persons who are below this line is 1 665.3 thousand representing 23.4% of the population.
In February 2018 compared to January 2018 a decrease is reported for the production of solid fuels - by 21.8%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 19.4%, transport diesel - by 31.3%, and electricity - by 6.1%. No change for the production of liquefied petroleum gases.
In February 2018 compared to January 2018 an increase is reported for the deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases - by 6.1%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 9.1%, and transport diesel - by 18.5%. At the same time a decrease is reported for the deliveries of solid fuels - by 20.2%, natural gas - by 9.5%, and electricity - by 11.7%.
Total Producer Price Index in March 2018 remains unchanged compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the prices rose by 3.0%. Producer Price Index on Domestic Market in March 2018 increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month; compared to the same month of 2017 the domestic prices grew by 4.8%.
In April 2018, the total business climate indicator increases by 2.8 percentage points in comparison with the previous month as a growth of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and services.
In March 2018, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 461.9 thousand or by 5.6% above the registered in March 2017. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in March 2018 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 44.3%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 30.3%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 25.4%.
In March 2018, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 524.3 thousand or by 10.5% more in comparison with March 2017. In March 2018, the predominant share of the visits with other purposes was 40.4%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purpose - 39.2%, and with professional purpose - 20.4%.
The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2017 was 837 with 32 970 places in them.
The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 32 429. 16 738 of them were boys, and 15 691 - girls.
The total number of places in crèches per 100 children aged up to 3 years as of 31.12.2017 was 16.9 and the coverage of children brought up in crèches - 16.6 per 100 children aged up to 3 years.