Retail trade across the European Union showed mixed dynamics in March, with Bulgaria standing out as the strongest performer on an annual basis, according to Eurostat data. On a monthly basis, retail sales in the euro area declined by 0.1%, following a 0.3% drop in February. Across the wider European Union, sales rose by 0.5%…
The summer tourist season has started on Bulgaria’s Southern Black Sea coast, with Sunny Beach already seeing strong early occupancy. Some hotels in the resort complex began operating at the end of April and are reporting full capacity, yet industry representatives are warning that rising travel costs, particularly airfares, are beginning to reshape booking patterns…
Bulgaria’s employers’ organization, the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AIKB), has taken a firm stance against the current practice of extending public holidays when they fall on weekends, arguing that the system generates significant economic losses and should be reconsidered. According to the group, Bulgaria will observe 12 official public holidays in 2026, all…
Bulgarian Financier Levon Hampartzoumian criticized the effectiveness of state efforts to ease price pressures, commenting on the closure of government-backed stands dubbed “People Shop” offering cheaper goods. In his view, the initiative had limited impact from the outset. “”People Shop” is not a large-scale scheme. With a budget of 10 million leva, nothing substantial can…
Unit 5 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to be taken offline on May 9 for its planned annual maintenance and refuelling, including the loading of American nuclear fuel, according to information presented in the annual report of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA). The outage is expected to continue until mid-June, when new…
Allianz Trade has revised its inflation outlook for Bulgaria for 2026, raising the forecast from 2.8% to 3.7%, citing mounting pressure from energy markets and broader global economic instability. The global trade credit insurer, which also operates in Bulgaria, says the adjustment reflects the combined impact of the ongoing energy shock and shifts in international…
Hotel revenues in Bulgaria are rising at a faster pace, with growth reaching 17%, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Institute. The trend reflects changes in pricing and hotel classification rather than a sharp increase in tourist numbers, according to Prof. Rumen Draganov, director of the Institute for Tourism Analysis and Evaluation.…