Among the nearly 2 million Bulgarians to whom the National Institute of Social Security (NISS) pays pension benefits, there are 16,000 who live abroad. The largest number of Bulgarian pensioners currently live in Germany – 4,100. And only one of compatriots of retirement age has settled in South Korea and Iceland. Meanwhile, 75,000 Bulgarians receive…
In Bulgaria, Uni Energi, the company behind the Avia gas station network, has submitted a request to the Commission for Protection of Competition to acquire Gazprom’s assets in the country. If approved, this acquisition would include 23 active gas stations, 13 parcels of land intended for new facility construction, and a light fuel storage site…
The prices of new homes in Bulgaria are expected to increase by an additional 12-15% until the end of 2025, with a slowdown in growth to around 10% anticipated next year. This forecast was shared by Georgi Shopov, chairman of the National Association of Construction Entrepreneurs (NACP). Shopov pointed out that Bulgaria’s upcoming entry into…
Bulgaria is on the verge of joining the eurozone, prompting questions about the possible inflationary impact of adopting the euro. An economic analysis by iBanFirst, a major provider of currency exchange and international payment services for businesses, forecasts Bulgaria’s harmonized inflation rate for 2026 to be between 2.8% and 3.3%. The inflation specifically linked to…
Psychologist Assoc. Prof. Nikolay Dimitrov believes that the tension surrounding Bulgaria’s upcoming euro adoption is rooted more in psychology than in actual economics. He points out that many Bulgarians carry emotional baggage from the past, specifically, the 1999 denomination of the lev, and that memory still shapes their fears today. Back then, the sudden removal…
The executive director of the Association for Modern Trade Nikolay Valkanov expressed serious concerns about the government’s recent regulatory actions and legislative changes surrounding Bulgaria’s eurozone transition and market oversight. Speaking to the Bulgarian National Radio, he highlighted mounting pressures on businesses, driven by rushed legal amendments and excessive state intervention. Valkanov acknowledged that the…
August 7 marks the final day for businesses in Bulgaria to prepare for the mandatory display of prices in both leva and euros. As part of the Euro Introduction Act, the regulation enters into force on August 8, requiring retailers to list both currencies on all goods and services. Labels must show prices in the…