Output
In June 2025, the industrial confidence indicator decreased by 0.7 percentage points in comparison with May 2025, according to the business inquiries of NSI.
In April 2025, a decrease of 10.4% was registered in the calendar-adjusted Industrial Production Index in comparison with the same month in 2024. On an annual basis, a decrease of the Industrial Production Index was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 18.7%, in the manufacturing - by 7.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 3.9%.
The calendar-adjusted data showed a rise of 7.0% in the construction production compared to the same month of 2024. A rise of the production was registered in the specialized construction activities - by 10.8%, in the civil engineering - by 8.1%, and in the construction of buildings - by 3.1%.
According to the preliminary data, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices for the first quarter of 2025 is 45 617.3 million BGN. The GDP per person is 7 093 BGN. At an average for the quarter exchange rate of 1.859196 BGN for 1 USD the GDP is 24 536 million USD, or 3 815 USD per person. In Euro terms, GDP reaches 23 324 million EUR in total and 3 626 EUR per person.
Private consumption
In April 2025, the total consumer confidence indicator increased by 3.1 percentage points compared to its January level. An improvement of the consumer confidence among both urban and rural inhabitants - by 2.3 and 4.8 percentage points, respectively, was reported. The consumers’ opinions about the development of the general economic situation in the country over the last 12 months and the expectations over the next 12 months, were less negative compared to the previous survey.
The calendar-adjusted retail trade turnover rose by 2.4% compared to the same month in 2024. In April 2025, compared to the same month of 2024, a rise of the turnover was registered in all groups: ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 9.8%, ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.7%, and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.1%.
During the first quarter of 2025, 74.7% of GDP was spent on individual consumption. The indicator increased by 8.0% in real terms compared to the respective quarter of 2024 (according to seasonally adjusted data).
Investment
The relative share of gross fixed capital formation in GDP in the first quarter of 2025 was 14.9%. The indicator increased by 7.9% in real terms compared to the same period of the previous year, according to seasonally adjusted data.
In April 2025, in comparison with January 2025, a decrease of the average capacity utilization in the industry (by 1.3 percentage point) was observed and it reached 72.9%, according to the business inquiries of NSI.
Labour market
In the first quarter of 2025, there were 2 910.9 thousand employed persons, of whom 1 546.1 thousand men and 1 364.8 thousand women. The employment rate for the population aged 15 years and over was 52.8%, 59.1% for men and 47.2% for women.
In the first quarter of 2025, there were 116.7 thousand unemployed persons, of whom 63.0 thousand (53.9%) men and 53.7 thousand (46.1%) women. The unemployment rate was 3.9%, 3.9% for men and 3.8% for women, respectively.
In the first quarter of 2025, compared to the first quarter of 2024, the total hourly labour cost rose by 12.4% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 14.1% in industry, 11.8% in services and 19.7% in construction.
In June 2025, 36.7% of the industrial enterprises pointed out the labour shortage as a factor limiting their activity, according to the business inquiries of NSI.
In March 2025, the average gross wage and salary was BGN 2 556 and increased by 8.0% compared to the previous month, and by 11.1% compared to March 2024.
International transactions
In June 2025, the production assurance with orders from abroad increased by 1.9 percentage points in comparison with May 2025, according to the industrial managers’ assessments registered by the business inquiries of NSI.
The current account was negative amounting to EUR 724.9 million in April 2025, compared with a negative balance of EUR 505.8 million in April 2024. In January - April 2025 the current account was negative and amounted to EUR 2 222.3 million (2% of GDP), compared with a deficit of EUR 771.8 million (0.7% of GDP) in January - April 2024.
The trade balance recorded a deficit of EUR 824.8 million in April 2025, compared with a negative balance of EUR 460.9 million in April 2024. In January - April 2025 the balance on goods was negative amounting to EUR 2 921.4 million (2.7% of GDP), compared with a deficit of EUR 1 507.9 million (1.5% of GDP) in January - April 2024.
Exports of goods amounted to EUR 3 379.8 million in April 2025, dropping by EUR 340.3 million (9.1%) from EUR 3 720 million in April 2024. In January - April 2025 exports of goods totalled EUR 13 422.6 million (12.3% of GDP), dropping by EUR 541.9 million (3.9%) year-on-year (from EUR 13 964.5 million, 13.5% of GDP). In January - April 2024 exports decreased by 4.9% year-on-year.
Imports of goods amounted to EUR 4 204.6 million in April 2025, increasing by EUR 23.7 million (0.6%) from April 2024 (EUR 4 180.9 million). In January - April 2025 imports of goods totalled EUR 16 344 million (15% of GDP), growing by EUR 871.7 million (5.6%) from January - April 2024 (EUR 15 472.4 million, 14.9% of GDP). In January - April 2024 imports decreased by 1.7% year-on-year.
