Bulgaria Business Confidence Weakens to 2020 Low

2026-04-30 08:30 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

Bulgaria’s industry business climate index declined to 12.4 in April 2026, the lowest reading since December 2020, down from 15.0 in March.

Key limiting factors were elevated economic uncertainty (49.6%), labour shortages (33.3%), insufficient domestic demand (24.3%) and foreign demand (24.9%), along with regulatory weaknesses (18.7%).

Firms assessed the current business situation as weaker (14.2 vs 16.2 in March), although present production activity improved (3.3 vs -0.3).

Total order levels deteriorated further (-16.6 vs -15.7), while finished goods inventories also worsened (-3.9 vs -2.1).

Expectations for selling prices increased (18.9 vs 10.9), pointing to stronger cost pass-through pressures.

Employment outlook turned slightly negative (-0.1 vs 3.1), while uncertainty surrounding future conditions rose (-14.1 vs -8.8).

Production expectations for the next three months moderated (9.4 vs 13.5), and the six-month business outlook also weakened (10.7 vs 13.9).



News Stream
Bulgaria Business Confidence Weakens to 2020 Low
Bulgaria’s industry business climate index declined to 12.4 in April 2026, the lowest reading since December 2020, down from 15.0 in March. Key limiting factors were elevated economic uncertainty (49.6%), labour shortages (33.3%), insufficient domestic demand (24.3%) and foreign demand (24.9%), along with regulatory weaknesses (18.7%). Firms assessed the current business situation as weaker (14.2 vs 16.2 in March), although present production activity improved (3.3 vs -0.3). Total order levels deteriorated further (-16.6 vs -15.7), while finished goods inventories also worsened (-3.9 vs -2.1). Expectations for selling prices increased (18.9 vs 10.9), pointing to stronger cost pass-through pressures. Employment outlook turned slightly negative (-0.1 vs 3.1), while uncertainty surrounding future conditions rose (-14.1 vs -8.8). Production expectations for the next three months moderated (9.4 vs 13.5), and the six-month business outlook also weakened (10.7 vs 13.9).
2026-04-30
Bulgaria Business Confidence Falls in March
Bulgaria’s business climate in industry eased to 15.0 in March 2026 from 16.3 in February. Constraining factors included economic uncertainty (47.3%), labour shortages (34.2%), weak domestic (24.9%) and foreign demand (24.9%), and weaknesses in economic legislation (17.9%). Firms reported a weaker current business situation (16.2 vs 19.0), while present production activity was largely unchanged (-0.3 vs -9.2). Total orders continued to decline (-15.7 vs -22.1), as well as stocks of finished goods (-2.1 vs -1.9), while selling price expectations rose (10.9 vs 8.8), signaling that firms anticipate higher costs or intend to pass them on to customers. Employment expectations softened (3.1 vs 4.6), and uncertainty about the business environment remained elevated (-8.8 vs -9.2). Production expectations over the next three months improved (13.5 vs 12.3), while six-month business expectations rose slightly (13.9 vs 13.6).
2026-03-30
Bulgaria Business Confidence Hits 10-Month High
Bulgaria’s business climate in industry rose to 16.3 in February 2026 from 15.5 in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since April 2025, as firms reported an improved current business situation (19.0 vs 16.6), while production expectations for the next three months strengthened further (12.3 vs 10.5) and employment outlook picked up (4.6 vs 1.8). Six-month business expectations, however, eased slightly (13.6 vs 14.5). At the same time, current production activity weakened further (-9.2 vs -6.2), and total orders continued to decline (-22.1 vs -18.2), with both domestic (-21.9 vs -17.8) and foreign demand (-30.4 vs -26.4) deteriorating. Stocks of finished goods fell marginally (-1.9 vs -2.1), while selling price expectations moderated (8.8 vs 12.8). Uncertainty about the future business environment remained elevated, though it improved somewhat from the previous month (-9.2 vs -11.6).
2026-02-27