05.05.2025
In April 2025, the overall business climate indicator in Bulgaria increased by 1.1 percentage points compared to March – from 20.4% to 21.5%, according to the latest business survey conducted by the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The improvement is mainly attributed to growing confidence in the industrial sector, while slight declines were observed in construction and services. The indicator for retail trade remained unchanged.
Growth in Industry
The business climate index in the industrial sector rose by 4.8 percentage points, from 14.5% to 19.3%. This growth is primarily driven by managers’ more optimistic assessments of the current state of their enterprises. Expectations for production activity over the next three months remain cautious, yet overall positive.
Slight Decline in Construction and Services
In the construction sector, the business climate index dropped by 2.5 percentage points – from 24.2% to 21.7% – due to less favorable evaluations and expectations regarding future activity. The main challenges continue to be the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labor, and rising prices of construction materials.
A similar trend is observed in the services sector, where the index decreased by 1.7 percentage points, from 12.4% to 10.7%. Managers reported a worsening of current business conditions and expressed reserved expectations regarding future demand.
The business climate indicator for retail trade remained stable at 36.5%. Expectations for sales volumes and orders to suppliers over the next quarter were maintained, though with slightly reduced intensity compared to the previous month. Increased competition within the sector continues to be the most significant challenge.
Although the national picture is mixed, the positive signals from the industrial sector are a key indicator of Ruse’s economic potential. With its strong industrial base, the region is well-positioned to benefit from the renewed business confidence.
The NSI data for April 2025 reflect a moderate but steady recovery in business sentiment across Bulgaria. For regions like Ruse, this presents opportunities to attract new investments, expand production capacity, and support the development of existing enterprises.
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