Retail sales in Bulgaria rose by 7.9% year-on-year in May from a 7.4% growth in the previous month. Activity increased across most major sectors, including food, beverages, and tobacco (4.7% vs 2.7% in April) and automotive fuels in specialized stores (13.7% vs 8.6%). In contrast, sales growth moderated in non-food products excluding fuel (8.3% vs 10.1%), weighed down by decreases in household appliances, furniture, and other household goods (11.2% vs 14.4%), computer and communications equipment and other consumer goods (4.0% vs 8.9%), mail-order, telephone, and internet sales (19.1% vs 21.0%), while trade declined at a faster pace in pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics, and toiletries (-2.5% vs -0.2%). On a monthly basis, retail activity grew by 0.8% in May, rebounding from a downwardly revised 1.0% drop in the preceding period. source: National Statistical Institute, Bulgaria

Retail Sales in Bulgaria increased 7.90 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Bulgaria averaged 6.66 percent from 2001 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 25.20 percent in March of 2007 and a record low of -13.30 percent in January of 2010. This page provides - Bulgaria Retail Sales YoY - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Bulgaria Retail Sales YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Retail Sales in Bulgaria increased 7.90 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Retail Sales YoY in Bulgaria is expected to be 3.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Bulgaria Retail Sales YoY is projected to trend around 2.40 percent in 2027 and 2.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-05 08:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Apr 7.4% 12.4% 11.0%
2026-07-07 08:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
May 7.9% 7.4% 6.9%
2026-08-07 08:00 AM
Retail Sales YoY
Jun 7.9% 3.5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Confidence -28.60 -25.90 points Jun 2026
Consumer Spending 12123.65 11859.60 EUR Million Mar 2026
Retail Sales MoM 0.80 -0.90 percent May 2026
Retail Sales YoY 7.90 7.40 percent May 2026


Bulgaria Retail Sales YoY
In Bulgaria, the year-over-year change in Retail sales compares the aggregated sales of retail goods and services during a certain month to the same month a year ago.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
7.90 7.40 25.20 -13.30 2001 - 2026 percent Monthly
Constant Prices, WDA

News Stream
Bulgaria Retail Sales Growth Rises in May
Retail sales in Bulgaria rose by 7.9% year-on-year in May from a 7.4% growth in the previous month. Activity increased across most major sectors, including food, beverages, and tobacco (4.7% vs 2.7% in April) and automotive fuels in specialized stores (13.7% vs 8.6%). In contrast, sales growth moderated in non-food products excluding fuel (8.3% vs 10.1%), weighed down by decreases in household appliances, furniture, and other household goods (11.2% vs 14.4%), computer and communications equipment and other consumer goods (4.0% vs 8.9%), mail-order, telephone, and internet sales (19.1% vs 21.0%), while trade declined at a faster pace in pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics, and toiletries (-2.5% vs -0.2%). On a monthly basis, retail activity grew by 0.8% in May, rebounding from a downwardly revised 1.0% drop in the preceding period.
2026-07-07
Bulgaria Retail Sales Growth Eases in April
Retail sales in Bulgaria rose by 7.4% year-on-year in April 2026, easing from a 12.4% jump in the previous month. Growth slowed across all major sectors, including sales in food, beverages, and tobacco (2.7% vs 3.6% in March), automotive fuels in specialized stores (8.6% vs 18.6%), and non-food products excluding fuel (10.1% vs 16.4%). Within the latter category, slower growth was recorded in sales of textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather goods (20.3% vs 22.4%), household appliances, furniture, and other household goods (14.4% vs 17.1%), computer and communications equipment and other consumer goods (8.9% vs 24.4%), as well as mail-order, telephone, and internet sales (21.0% vs 24.1%). On a monthly basis, retail activity dropped by 0.9% in April, following a downwardly revised 1.3% increase in the preceding period.
2026-06-05
Bulgaria Retail Sales Growth Hits Near 5-Year High
Retail sales in Bulgaria surged 12.4% year-on-year in March 2026, the strongest growth since July 2021, accelerating from a 7.3% increase in the previous month. The rise was driven mainly by robust gains in automotive fuel in specialised stores (18.6% vs 0.4% in February) and stronger growth in non-food products excluding fuel (16.4% vs 10.5%), particularly textiles, clothing and footwear (22.4% vs 17.1%), computers, peripheral units and software (24.4% vs 16.9%), audio and video equipment (17.1% vs 13.8%), and mail order and online sales (24.1% vs 23.7%). Sales of medical and orthopaedic goods, cosmetic and toilet articles also rebounded (9.1% vs -3.2%), while growth slowed in food, beverages and tobacco (3.6% vs 5.3%). On a monthly basis, retail sales grew 2.1% in March, following an upwardly revised 2.2% increase in February.
2026-05-08