Bulgaria’s business climate in industry rose to 15.5 in January 2026 from 12.5 in the previous month. Six-month business expectations strengthened (14.5 vs 10.6), while the employment outlook improved (1.8 vs 1.2). Stocks of finished goods declined at a slower pace (-2.1 vs -2.5), and fewer firms reported no difficulties (14 vs 12.8). Firms continued to cite an uncertain economic environment (46.8 vs 50.5) and labor shortages (34.5 vs 34.8) as their main challenges, although both showed modest improvement. On the downside, current production activity worsened (-6.2 vs -2.9), and total orders deteriorated (-18.2 vs -15.3), with both domestic (-17.8 vs -20.3) and foreign demand (-26.4 vs -27.7) remaining weak. Industrial confidence fell (-1.9 vs -1.3), and production expectations for the next three months edged slightly lower (10.5 vs 10.6). Selling prices are also expected to decrease (12.8 vs 14.8). source: National Statistical Institute, Bulgaria

Business Confidence in Bulgaria increased to 15.50 points in January from 12.50 points in December of 2025. Business Confidence in Bulgaria averaged 20.99 points from 1997 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 50.30 points in July of 2007 and a record low of -20.90 points in February of 1997. This page provides the latest reported value for - Bulgaria Business Confidence - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Bulgaria Business Confidence - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Business Confidence in Bulgaria increased to 15.50 points in January from 12.50 points in December of 2025. Business Confidence in Bulgaria is expected to be 21.00 points by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Bulgaria Business Confidence is projected to trend around 20.00 points in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-30 09:00 AM
Business Confidence
Dec 12.5 14.6 15
2026-01-30 09:00 AM
Business Confidence
Jan 15.5 12.5 13
2026-02-27 09:00 AM
Business Confidence
Feb 15.5


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Business Confidence 15.50 12.50 points Jan 2026
Changes in Inventories 1564.21 141.24 BGN Million Sep 2025
Industrial Production YoY -9.30 -7.50 percent Nov 2025
Industrial Production MoM -1.70 -2.40 percent Nov 2025
Manufacturing Production -4.70 -6.20 percent Nov 2025


Bulgaria Business Confidence
In Bulgaria, the business climate in industry measures the level of optimism that companies have about the performance of the economy and how they feel about their organizations’ prospects over the future. Business confidence surveys can provide useful signs about the current condition of the economy, because companies often have information about consumer demand sooner than government statisticians do.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
15.50 12.50 50.30 -20.90 1997 - 2026 points Monthly

News Stream
Bulgaria Business Confidence Improves in January
Bulgaria’s business climate in industry rose to 15.5 in January 2026 from 12.5 in the previous month. Six-month business expectations strengthened (14.5 vs 10.6), while the employment outlook improved (1.8 vs 1.2). Stocks of finished goods declined at a slower pace (-2.1 vs -2.5), and fewer firms reported no difficulties (14 vs 12.8). Firms continued to cite an uncertain economic environment (46.8 vs 50.5) and labor shortages (34.5 vs 34.8) as their main challenges, although both showed modest improvement. On the downside, current production activity worsened (-6.2 vs -2.9), and total orders deteriorated (-18.2 vs -15.3), with both domestic (-17.8 vs -20.3) and foreign demand (-26.4 vs -27.7) remaining weak. Industrial confidence fell (-1.9 vs -1.3), and production expectations for the next three months edged slightly lower (10.5 vs 10.6). Selling prices are also expected to decrease (12.8 vs 14.8).
2026-01-30
Bulgaria Business Confidence Lowest Since 2020
Bulgaria’s business climate in industry fell to 12.5 in December 2025 from 14.6 in November, the lowest since December 2020. Current production activity turned negative (-2.9 vs 1.6), while total orders remained weak (-15.3 vs -15.7), with domestic (-20.3 vs -19.3) and foreign demand (-27.7 vs -23.6) both declining. Stocks of finished goods also fell (-2.5 vs -0.8). Industrial confidence softened (-1.3 vs -3.1%), and employment outlook moderated (1.2 vs 2.1), with six-month business expectations easing (10.6 vs 12.2). On the positive side, production expectations for the next three months improved (9.0 vs 5.6), and selling prices are expected to rise (14.8 vs 10.8). Main obstacles remain the uncertain economic environment (50.5 vs 45.6) and labor shortages (34.8 vs 33.6), while fewer firms reported no difficulties (12.8 vs 14.4).
2025-12-30
Bulgaria Business Confidence Lowest in 8 Months
Bulgaria’s business confidence indicator fell to 14.6 in November 2025 from 15.5 in October, marking the lowest reading since March. Assessments of the current business situation weakened (17.0 vs 17.8 in October), alongside a modest decline in the outlook for both production activity (5.6 vs 5.9) and employment (2.1 vs 4.0) over the next three months. Expectations for the business situation over the next six months also eased (12.2 vs 13.2), while pessimism about the level of orders persisted (-15.7 vs -18.5). The uncertain economic environment (45.6 vs 44.9) and labor shortages (33.6 vs 36.0) remained the main obstacles to industrial activity. Meanwhile, selling prices are expected to rise slightly over the next months, with the balance indicator increasing to 10.8 from 9.3 in October.
2025-11-28