December 31 (BTA) - According to seasonally adjusted data released by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on Friday, in the third quarter of 2021 Bulgaria's GDP increased by 4.6 per cent compared to the like quarter of 2020 and by 0.6 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2021. Preliminary data for the third quarter of this year show a GDP of 36,133,000 million leva at current prices.

 

In July-September 2021, the GDP per person amounted to 5,241 leva. With an average exchange rate of 1.659260 leva for 1 US dollar in the third quarter of this year, the GDP amounted to 21,777,000 million dollars and the GDP per person, to 3,159 dollars. In euro, the GDP reached 18,475,000 million euro and the GDP per person, 2,680 euro.

 

Data from the NSI's business inquiries show an increase by 1 per cent in the industrial confidence indicator in December compared to November 2021.

 

In October 2021, the working day adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 9.7 per cent from October 2020. On an annual basis, the Industrial Production Index, calculated based on calendar day adjusted data, increased in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 52.3 per cent, in the mining and quarrying industry by 19.1 per cent, and in manufacturing by 3.5 per cent.

 

In October 2021, the calendar adjusted preliminary data show a decrease by 1.9 per cent in construction production compared to the same month of 2020. On an annual basis, this decrease resulted from the negative rate in building construction and in civil engineering, where the drop was 1.9 per cent and 1.8 per cent, respectively.

 

In October 2021, the total consumer confidence indicator went down by 10.8 percentage points compared to its level three months earlier, which is due to the decreased confidence among both rural and urban inhabitants, by 11.9 and 10.2 percentage points, respectively. The consumers' opinions about the development of the general economic situation in the country over the last 12 months and their expectation for the next 12 months are more pessimistic compared to the previous survey.

 

In October 2021, the calendar adjusted turnover in retail trade grew by 7.6 per cent year-on-year. The turnover increased in the retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco, by 7.6 per cent, in the retail sale of non-food products (except fuel), by 7.6 per cent, and in the retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores, by 7 per cent.

 

In the third quarter of 2021, 66.7 per cent of GDP were spent on individual consumption. According to seasonally adjusted data, the indicator increased by 7.3 per cent in real terms compared to the third quarter of 2020.

 

RY/DS

Source: Sofia