In April 2019 consumer price index (CPI) in Bulgaria increased for the fourth consecutive month, data of the National Statistical Institute show. The average annual inflation for the period May 2018-April 2019 rose 3.3% year on year (as compared to May 2017-April 2018).

In April this year the prices of food and soft drinks in Bulgaria saw a 1.1% increase as compared to the previous month, while the prices of alcohol, tobacco products and healthcare products (medicines) remained unchanged as compared to March 2019. Prices of clothing and shoes went up 6.9% on a monthly basis.

House prices and prices of water, electricity, gas and other fuels fell 0.2% as compared to March 2019, while prices of transport services rose 1.6% in April this year as compared to the previous month.

Data of NSI signal that inflation has started to accelerate again in the first months of 2019 after a period of lower inflation registered at the end of 2018.

The prices of services and goods in Bulgaria are expected to increase after the introduction of the road toll system in this country. The new system will begin with a three month free test period starting on August 16 this year. The introduction of the toll system in this country will indeed make some of the items sold on the Bulgarian market more expensive, but not as much as some experts and branch organizations forecast, Bulgaria’s Minister of transport Rosen Zhelyazkov commented. Minister Zhelyazkov specified that only the heaviest trucks that do not transport food products will pay high toll fees, i.e. the toll system will have some impact on prices, but it will not be as apocalyptical as some people expect.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov