Bulgaria Retail Sales Growth at 9-Month High

Retail sales in Bulgaria rose 3.9% year-on-year in January 2026, easing from a revised 8.2% jump in the previous month. The slowdown was largely attributed to softer growth in sales of non-food products excluding fuel (8.3% vs 16.6% in December), driven by smaller increases in audio and video equipment (15.3% vs 29.4%), computers, peripheral units and software (10.5% vs 16.5%), and information and communication equipment (12.7% vs 22.7%). Meanwhile, sales of pharmaceutical and orthopedic goods declined (-2.7% vs -10.4%). Sales of automotive fuel also fell (-1.5% vs 15.4%), while growth moderated for sales via mail-order houses and the internet (13% vs 14.7%). At the same time, sales of food, beverages, and tobacco were flat, following a 4.6% decline in December. On a monthly basis, retail sales dropped 0.5%, after a 1.6% increase in the previous period.

Retail sales in Bulgaria rose by 7.7% year-on-year in December 2025, following a 3.1% gain in the previous month. This marked the sharpest rise in retail activity in eleven months, as sales increased sharply in automotive fuel and lubricants (11.8% vs 10.3%) and non-food products excluding fuel (15.7% vs 5.9% in November), particularly in non-specialized stores (16.4% vs 8.9%), textiles, clothing, footwear, and leather (8.6% vs 5.1%), household appliances, furniture, and other household goods (29.3% vs 15.3%), audio, video, computer, and communication equipment (16.3% vs 14.7%). Meanwhile, activity declined further in food, beverages, and tobacco (-4.6% vs -2%). On a monthly basis, retail sales grew by 1.6% in December, following an upwardly revised 0.2% growth in the preceding period.

Retail sales in Bulgaria rose by 3.1% year-on-year in November 2025, slowing from a 7.4% gain in the previous month. This marked the softest rise in retail activity in seven months, as sales growth moderated for non-food products excluding fuel (5.9% vs 12.9% in October), textiles, clothing, footwear and leather goods (5.1% vs 24%), audio, video, computer and communication equipment (14.7% vs 20.8%), and pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetics, and toiletries (2.1% vs 10.3%). Additionally, activity fell sharply for mail order, telephone, or internet (-8.8% vs 1.4%) and food, beverages, and tobacco (-2% vs -0.2%). Meanwhile, trade increased for automotive fuel and lubricants (10.3% vs 7.8%) and non-specialized stores (8.9% vs 7.6%). On a monthly basis, retail activity declined by 0.4% in November, reversing a downwardly revised 0.5% growth in the preceding period.