Press releases

In November 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.3% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

A growth was reported in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.4%, and in ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.0%. ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ kept the level of the previous month.

The trade turnover rose by 6.8% compared to the same month of 2023 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In November 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase of the turnover was seen in ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 11.0%, and in ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 9.1%. А drop was reported in ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 7.9%.

In October 2024, the total production index in Services of the business economy decreased by 0.4% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to October 2023, a rise of 5.6% was registered in the calendar-adjusted index according to preliminary data.

For November 2024, the reported revenues of sub-sector ‘Central Government’ were in the amount of BGN 5 621.67 million and the expenditures were in the amount of BGN 5 219.78 million, and for the sub-sector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 888.58 million and the expenditures were BGN 2 842.67 million.

The data for the ‘Central Government’ sub-sector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the sub-sector, and the data for the ‘Social Security Funds’ sub-sector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3(2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In 2023, compared to the previous year 2022, an increase in the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in the country is observed - by 3.51 percentage points, whereby it reaches 22.55%.

The sectoral shares of renewable energy also show increase compared to 2022, as the largest increase is observed in electricity produced from renewable sources - by 9.35 percentage points, to 29.43%, followed by the renewable energy for heating and cooling - by 3.23 percentage points, reaching a share of 34.88%. The smallest increase recorded the renewable energy in fuel consumption of transport - by 0.43 percentage points, to 8.09%.

Detailed data on the Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption and sectoral shares are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Energy'.

In the third quarter of 2024:

• Тhe Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 2.4% compared to the third quarter of 2023.
• 65.6% of GDP was spent on individual consumption.
• The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP was 17.4%.
• The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 53.8%.
• The unemployment rate was 3.6% (compared to 4.0% in the third quarter of 2023), 3.8% for men and 3.4% for women, respectively.
• Compared to the third quarter of 2023, the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.8% (preliminary data).
• Compared to the third quarter of 2023, housing prices increased by 16.5%.

In October 2024, the total consumer confidence decreased by 3.8 percentage points in comparison with July 2024 level.

In December 2024, the total business climate indicator increases by 1.7 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. An increase of the indicator is observed in the industry, retail trade and in the service sector. Only in the construction a reduction is registered.

The main problems for the activity in the sectors remain the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch and costs of materials.

Since July 2024, NSI has started publishing Producer Prices Indices in Industry by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry rose by 2.9% in November 2024 compared to the previous month. An increase of 11.7% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, in the manufacturing industry - by 0.2%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 0.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 4.9% in November 2024 compared to October 2024. The domestic prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply grew by 13.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 0.5%, in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went up by 1.1% compared to the same month in 2023. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry -
by 25.2%, as well as in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%. There was a price reduction in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 2.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 1.0% compared to November 2023. The prices went up in the mining and quarrying industry - by 14.9%, in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.4%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.1%.

In October 2024, compared to September 2024, for the production of energy products no increase was observed in any of the products. A decrease was reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 22.2%, solid fuels - by 18.2%, electricity - by 8.4%, transport diesel - by 3.1%, and motor gasoline - by 0.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to October 2023, an increase is reported in the production of electricity - by 4.2%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 40.1%, motor gasoline - by 27.2%, and transport diesel - by 9.3%. There is no change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas.

In October 2024, compared to September 2024, an increase was reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 31.9%, natural gas - by 15.3%, electricity - by 11.0%, motor gasoline - by 9.8%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 5.4%. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of solid fuels - by 11.4%.

Compared to October 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 21.7%, natural gas - by 14.7%, transport diesel - by 8.3%, and electricity - by 7.7%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 35.5%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.3%.

In November 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 638.6 thousand, or 11.3% above the registered in November 2023. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 711.9 thousand, or 2.5% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase was registered in the trips with professional purposes - by 9.3%, and with holiday and recreation purposes - by 7.7%, while those with other purposes decreased by 2.7%. Transit passes through the country were 37.8% (269.4 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

From 2024, NSI started publishing quarterly Services Producer Price Indices by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The total producer price index in Services of the business economy increased by 0.9% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter and by 4.4% in comparison to the same quarter of 2023.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading ‘Short-term Business Statistics’.