In March 2012 the business conjuncture in the country has slightly improved. The total business climate indicator increases by 2.3 percentage points in comparison with its February level due to the more favourable business climate in retail trade and in service sector.
In February 2012 the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 226.4 thousand or by 10.5% less compared to January.
Preliminary data of NSI for the Fourth Quarter of 2011 indicated that total hourly labour cost rose by 9.7% compared to the Fourth Quarter of 2010.
In 2011 the employment rate (15 - 64) was 58.5%, by 1.2 percentage points lower in comparison with 2010. Over the same period the unemployment rate increased by 1.0 percentage points to 11.2%.
The consumer price index (CPI) in February 2012 compared to January 2012 was 100.9%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.9%.
The harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) in February 2012 compared to January 2012 was 100.6%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.6%.
According to the final data of the NSI, the consumer price index in January 2012 compared to December 2011 was 100.2%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.2%
According to the final data of the NSI, the harmonized index of consumer prices in January 2012 compared to December 2011 was 100.4%, i.e. the monthly inflation was 0.4%.
In January 2012 the Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 14.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded 1.0 billion levs while the imports increased by 0.9% and amounted to 1.4 billion levs.
In January 2012 the total value of the exported goods (both for third countries and EU) amounted to 2.8 billion levs and compared to the corresponding month of 2011 the exports decreased by 10.2% while the total value of all imported goods was 3.3 billion levs and decreased by 0.2%.
In 2011 the Bulgarian exports to the EU increased by 33.6% compared to the previous year and amounted to 24.7 billion levs while the imports increased by 22.8% and amounted to 27.0 billion levs.
In December 2011 the exports to the EU increased by 20.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and exceeded 1.8 billion levs while the imports increased by 16.8% and exceeded 2.4 billion levs.
In January 2012 the total number of the nights spent in all accommodation establishments amounted to 613.5 thousand as 310.5 thousand of them was by Bulgarian residents and 303.0 thousand - by foreigners.
According to the preliminary data of the NSI, in January 2012 the index of production in section ‘Construction’, calculated on the base of seasonally adjusted data was 1.8% below the level of the previous month.
The preliminary data showed that the Industrial Production Index seasonally adjusted decreased by 0.6% in January 2012 as compared to December 2011. The working day adjusted Industrial Production Index fell by 3.6% as compared to the same month of 2011.