In March 2017 the total business climate indicator increases by 2.9 percentage points in comparison with February which is due to the improved business climate in industry, construction and retail trade.
In February 2017, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 366.8 thousand or by 30.4% above the registered in February 2016. The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sport events) in February 2017 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 55.0%, followed by the trips with professional purpose - 26.1%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - 18.9%.
In February 2017, the number of arrivals of visitors from abroad to Bulgaria was 435.9 thousand or by 20.4% more in comparison with February 2016. An increase was registered in the trips by all observed purposes: with other purposes - by 25.6%, with professional purpose - by 18.7%, and with holiday and recreation purpose - by 16.8%.
Preliminary data of the NSI for the fourth quarter of 2016 indicate that the total hourly labour cost rose by 8.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.
In 2016 the unemployment rate was 7.6%, and the employment rate of population aged 20 - 64 was 67.7%.
The consumer price index in February 2017 compared to January 2017 was 100.0%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.0%.
In January 2017, 1 797 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 54.5 thousand and the bed-places were 109.5 thousand. In comparison with January 2016 the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) decreased with 1.8%, and the bed-places in them - by 1.7%.
The total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in January 2017 was 802.0 thousand, or by 1.2% less in comparison with the same month of the previous year.
The total revenues from nights spent in January 2017 reached 41.6 million BGN or by 5.5% more compared to January 2016.
In 2016 the Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 7.2% compared to 2015 and amounted to 31 153.1 Million BGN while the imports from the EU increased by 2.4% and reached 33 938.5 Million BGN.
In December 2016 the exports to the EU grew by 12.8% in comparison with the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 2 439.9 Million BGN while the imports added up to 3 045.2 Million BGN and increased by 6.3%.
In January 2017 the Bulgarian exports to third countries increased by 12.7% compared to the same month of 2016 and amounted to 1 312.1 Million BGN while the imports grew by 30.8% and added up to 1 574.9 Million BGN.
In January 2017 the total value of all exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 3 724.0 Million BGN and in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year the exports increased by 8.7% while the total value of all imported goods added up to 4 206.9 Million BGN and grew by 21.2%.
According to the preliminary data, in January 2017 the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 0.6% below the level of the previous month. In January 2017 the working day adjusted index of production in construction decreased by 10.3% in comparison with the same month of 2016.
According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in January 2017 the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.5% compared to the previous month.