The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has decided to increase the countercyclical capital buffer to 2.25%, in a move aimed at easing pressure on the rapidly growing housing credit market and strengthening the resilience of the banking system. The measure is designed as a preventive tool that requires banks to set aside additional capital during periods…
Industrial output in Bulgaria posted a modest monthly increase in February, but continued to decline sharply on an annual basis, according to preliminary, seasonally adjusted data from the National Statistical Institute. On a monthly comparison, the industrial production index rose by 0.9% compared to January. This growth was largely driven by developments in manufacturing, which…
Up to 90% of construction and renovation workers in Bulgaria are operating outside the legal framework, according to entrepreneur Lozan Lozanov, who has raised concerns about the lack of regulation in construction and installation services, particularly in the interior renovation sector. He described an environment where “everyone does what they want” due to the absence…
Bulgaria recorded only a limited and one-off increase in inflation after joining the euro on January 1, with the impact estimated at 0.3% to 0.4%, Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev said in an interview with Reuters. He stressed that the effect was in line with Croatia’s experience and that overall inflation trends remained broadly…
Data released by the Ministry of Finance, covering budget execution for February and preliminary estimates for March, indicate a marked deterioration in Bulgaria’s fiscal position. Additional comparative analysis published by the Fiscal Council highlights the figures in the context of an extended budget framework, described as an atypical financial situation. According to the report, the…
Restaurant and cafe prices in Bulgaria have increased sharply over the past decade, rising by close to 110%, according to analysis by the Institute for Market Economics. Economist Adrian Nikolov pointed out that this growth significantly outpaced the rise in key cost components such as labor, electricity and raw materials, based on official data compiled…
Representatives of the hotel and restaurant sector in Bulgaria are calling for a reduced VAT rate of 9%, arguing that rising fuel prices are putting serious pressure on their businesses. According to industry organizations, such a measure is necessary to avoid closures and stabilize the sector during a period of growing costs. They warn that…