Economy of Bulgaria

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.3% in December 2019, up from 1.0% in November according to a flash estimate from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In the period January - July 2019, Bulgaria's exports to the EU increased by 4.8% compared to the same period of 2018 and amounted to BGN 22 629.6 million. In July 2019, exports to the EU increased by 3.0% compared to the same month of the previous year and amounted to BGN 3 600.0 million.

The economic forecasts for Bulgaria for the next few years are quite positive. This is indicated by statistics released by the Statista covering the period 2014 to 2024.

BDZ - Passenger Transport EOOD will provide nearly 8,000 additional seats on trains over the weekend on the occasion of Bulgaria's Independence Day.

BDZ organizes a holiday attraction trip for all its customers with a steam locomotive on the occasion of the Independence Day of Bulgaria on the Sofia-Cherepish-Sofia route, the railways reported.

In the period January - June 2019 Bulgarian exports to the EU grew by 5.1% in comparison with the same period of 2018 and amounted to 19 029.6 Million BGN (Annex, Table 1 and 2). Main trade partners of Bulgaria were Germany, Romania, Italy, Greece, France and Belgium which accounted for 67.1% of the exports to the EU Member States.

A fire near the railroad blocked the Sofia-Varna express train. The fire broke out in the area between Covenant and Karnobat. Dry grasses and shrubs are burning, NOVA reported.

BDZ reports that passengers will be taken on buses.

The other scheduled trains were completely canceled.

Moody's Investors Service raised the outlook for Bulgaria's credit rating to positive from stable and affirmed the country's long-term foreign and local currency Baa2 rating. This was announced by the finance ministry.

A significant increase in tourism revenue in the first half of the year helped Greece to reduce its current account deficit, more than the growth in imports. This is indicated by the Bank of Greece data.

The tourism revenues for the first six months of 2019, were € 5.5 billion, up by 15.3% from € 4.77 billion for the same period in 2018.

A train with a graffiti-decorated locomotive departed today, August 13, from Sofia to Bourgas. The idea of the Bulgarian state railway company, BDZ, is one of a kind and aims to show that painting in an urban environment can have a beautiful end result, reports BNT.