The total business climate indicator in Bulgaria for August remains approximately on the same level as the previous month – from 20.6% to 20.2%, BGNES reports, citing National Statistical Institute data. The main obstacles to development are the uncertain economic environment and the labour shortages. In construction, entrepreneurs add the rise in the prices of materials.

In construction the business climate in August went down by 3.0 points (from 27.9% to 24.9%). Building contractors say they expect sales prices to go up in the coming 3 months.

In retail trade the decrease is by 1.4 points (from 25.0% to 23.6%) as a result of the reservations retailers have regarding the state of enterprises. However, their forecasts regarding sale volumes and orders placed with suppliers are improving.  

As regards sales prices, 87.3% of retailers say they expect them to remain at the same level over the next 3 months.

In the services sector the business climate has gone up by 0.8% points (from 5.1% to 15.9%).

The majority of entrepreneurs are not envisaging any change in sales prices in the services sector until the end of the year.

Edited by Darina Grigorova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photo: BGNES