Press releases

In October 2022 the activities of the project ‘European system of integrated social protection statistics (ESSPROS) - Unemployment benefits recipients’ of the National Statistical Institute under a grant agreement with the European Commission 101055564 - 2021-BG-ESSPROS were successfully completed. The main objective of the project was to build capacity for the preparation of statistical data on the recipients of unemployment benefits in Bulgaria within the framework of the European System for Integrated Social Protection Statistics (ESSPROS) according to a methodology proposed by Eurostat for the voluntary collection of such data.

In cooperation with experts from the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) and the Employment Agency, the available data on the number of recipients of periodic cash unemployment benefits from the register of unemployment benefits recipients and the register of persons registered in the labour offices of the Employment Agency was processed. Periodic unemployment benefits in Bulgaria that fall within the scope of the data collected under the project include unemployment benefits under Article 54a, paragraph 1 of the Social Security Code and under Articles 230 and 231 of the Law on Defense and the Armed Forces of Republic of Bulgaria as well as scholarships, transport and accommodation expenses paid to unemployed persons participating in training for literacy, acquisition of professional qualifications or key competences (for the duration of the training). In accordance with the requirement to eliminate the double counting of the recipients of benefits/assistance falling under the unemployment function, the vertical aggregation of the data on the recipients of unemployment benefits administered by NSSI and the data on the recipients of ‘vocational qualification supplement’ administered by the Employment Agency for the same reference period was carried out by NSSI. The questionnaire for the qualitative information on the module has been completed.

As a result of the carried out activities data for 2019 and 2020 on the total number of recipients of at least one of the above-mentioned benefits during the reference year was obtained on the one hand and data on the average monthly number of benefits received during the reference year in total, by gender and by age group on the other hand. In 2019 and 2020, a total of 216 781 and 301 660 persons respectively received at least one periodic cash unemployment benefit and the average monthly number of such benefits received was 71 380 and 109 859 respectively.

In 2021, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 074.0 million BGN, which was 4.9% more than the previous year. The annual growth tendency is retained for the period 2017 - 2021.

R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product) amounted to 0.77% and it was 0.08 percentage points lower than in 2020.

In the structure of R&D expenditure by fields of science in 2021, as in the previous year, the highest share belonged to the R&D expenditure in technical sciences - 51.5% (553.2 million BGN), followed by medical and health sciences with a share of 19.2% (206.7 million BGN) and the natural sciences - 17.4% (187.0 million BGN).

In 2021, the personnel engaged in research and development activity amounted to 25 122 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 3.7% less than the previous year. The share of women in total R&D personnel was 47.5%. The number of researchers in full-time equivalent was 16 230 persons, which was 2.8% less compared to 2020.

In August 2022, compared to July 2022, an increase is reported for the production of liquefied petroleum gases by 10.0%. A decrease is reported for the production of: solid fuels - by 11.0%, electricity - by 1.8%, and unleaded motor gasoline - by 0.6%. No change in the production of transport diesel and natural gas.

In August 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: transport diesel - by 34.9%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 29.8%, and electricity - by 6.8%. A decrease is reported for the production of: natural gas - by 50.0% and solid fuels - by 4.5%. No change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases.

In August 2022, compared to July 2022, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: unleaded motor gasoline - by 27.8%, transport diesel - by 15.8%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 15.4%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 28.0%, solid fuels - by 11.5%, and electricity - by 1.5%.

In August 2022, compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.8% and transport diesel - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported for the deliveries of: natural gas - by 30.6%, unleaded motor gasoline - by 9.8%, solid fuels - by 8.7%, and electricity - by 5.7%.

In October 2022, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.7 percentage points compared to September. A reduction of the indicator is observed in industry, retail trade and service sector, and only in construction an improvement is registered.

In all sectors, the factor, limiting with the most extend the enterprises’ activity remains the uncertain economic environment.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry increased by 6.8% in September 2022 compared to the previous month. Higher prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.6%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 6.5%, and in the manufacturing by 0.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market increased by 9.2% in September 2022 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went up in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 15.5%, in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.0%, and in the manufacturing by 1.7%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 56.8% in September 2022 compared to the same month in 2021. Significant growth was seen in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 148.3%, in the manufacturing by 22.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 17.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 78.1% compared to September 2021. Prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 147.0%, in manufacturing by 31.2% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 14.1%.

In September 2022, the number of the trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 643.7 thousand or by 11.1% above the registered in September 2021.

The trips with holiday and recreation purpose in September 2022 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 42.3%, followed by those with other purposes (as a guest, education and visit the cultural and sports events) - 39.3%, and with professional purpose - 18.4%.

In September 2022, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 1 112.7 thousand or 44.0% more in comparison with September 2021. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 35.9% (399.2 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In 2021, the government deficit and debt of the EU decreased in relative terms compared with 2020. In 2021, in the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio shrank to -4.6% from -6.7% in 2020. In 2021, the government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased to 87.9% from 89.8% at the end of 2020.

In 2021, the final data from the National Statistical Institute showed that the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -5 414 million BGN, or 3.9% of GDP.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2021 is 33 268 million BGN, representing 23.9% of GDP.

The number of deaths in the third quarter of 2022 (27th - 39th week) is 24 711 and the crude mortality rate is 14.5‰. Mortality among males (15.6‰) is higher than among females (13.5‰). Compared to the same period of the previous year, the number of deaths has decreased by 6 092, or 19.8%.

In September 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 1.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in September 2022 compared to September 2021 was 18.7%.

In September 2022, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Education (+5.4%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (+4.2%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.3%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Recreation and culture (-4.6%), Transport (-2.9%) and Communications (-1.8%).

In September 2022, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.7% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in September 2022 compared to September 2021 was 15.6%.