Bulgaria’s National Statistical Institute reported that inflation in 2024 stood at 2.2%, a slight increase from the previous year. The inflation rate in December 2024 was recorded at 0.4%. The average annual inflation for the period from January to December 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, reached 2.4%.
Among the various categories, the most significant price increases were observed in “Entertainment and culture” (+5.9%), “Transport” (+1.3%) and “Restaurants and hotels” (+0.7%), along with “Miscellaneous goods and services” (+0.6%). On the other hand, the largest price decreases were in “Clothing and footwear” (-1.3%) and “Food products and non-alcoholic beverages” (-0.6%).
Food products saw a noticeable increase in prices in December 2024. Cabbage prices surged by 15.4%, while low-fat milk went up by 4.9%. Other food items, including mushrooms, onions, garlic and eggs, also experienced price hikes, with certain items like beef and oil increasing by 2% or more. In contrast, some products saw price reductions, such as pepper (-8.9%), citrus fruits (-8.4%) and apples (-4.2%).
In non-food goods and services, international flights saw a notable increase in price, rising by 29.3%, and vacation trips within Bulgaria were 9.9% more expensive. Other increases included central gas supply (+8.7%), diesel fuel (+2.0%) and personal hygiene products (+0.8%). Meanwhile, some products in the non-food sector saw lower prices, such as shoes (-2.6%) and washing powders (-2.3%).
Pharmaceutical products experienced a slight increase of 0.5%, while medical and dental services rose by 0.2%. Regarding the small basket index for December 2024, the prices showed a monthly rise of 0.1% and a 2.3% increase since the beginning of the year. (Novinite)