National Statistical Institute

Exports to third countries shrank by 5.9% in 2016 compared to the previous year, national statistics show.

The amount exported for that time was BGN 14.957 B, with Turkey, China, Macedonia, Serbia, Russia and the US being the main non-EU partners for Bulgarian goods, according to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

National statistics have revised downward the former government's figures suggesting more foreign tourists visited Bulgaria in 2016 than the size of its population.

Officials of the previous cabinet earlier said more than 8 million foreign arrivals would be registered between the end of January 2016 and January of this year, in a country of just 7.1 million.

Mariana Kotzeva has become the Acting Director-General of Europe's statistics body, Eurostat, as of the beginning of this year, the agency has said.

In a press release dated January 24 (three weeks after Kotzeva assumed office), Eurostat says her appointment "follows the retirement of Walter Radermacher, in charge of Eurostat from August 1, 2008 until the end of last year."

The average monthly wage in Bulgaria will exceed BGN 1,000 in 2017, forecast experts of UniCredit Group. The forecast was made at the financial forum Euromoney in Vienna, reported BTA.

Monthly inflation in December was 0.6%, while annual inflation was - 0.1%, reported the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

The most drastic increase in prices was registered with respect to airplane tickets - 28.6%. Against the background of a more pervasive presence of low-cost carriers, this can be explained with traditionally high demand before Christmas and New Year's Eve.

According to data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), in the period January - October 2016, Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 6.2%, compared to the same period of 2015 and amounted to BGN 25 925.6 M.

The main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Italy, Romania, Greece and France which accounted for 64.2% of the exports to EU member-states.

According to data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), in the period January - November 2016, Bulgarian exports to third countries decreased by 8.1%, compared to the same period of 2015 and amounted to BGN 13 422.6 M.

Outgoing Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova is of the opinion that the number of Russian tourists to Bulgaria could increase by 40% in 2017.

Angelkova commented on the topic to Focus agency during a working visit to Moscow.

Bulgaria's budget for this year will have a surplus of at least BGN 1.508 B, the Finance Ministry has said.

The figure amounts to 1.6% of the GDP projection, according to a ministry statement. The National Statistical Institute (NSI)'s revised estimate for the previous year, 2015, was a 1.7% deficit.

More than a third of Bulgarian households still have no internet access at home, national statistics reveal.