Inflation Bulgaria 2023

Average inflation: 9.6%

Current Inflation

Inflation is very high at 9.6%, far above the ECB target.

Peak and Trough

The highest inflation was in January at 16.7%. The lowest inflation was in December at 4.7%.

Highest month
January: 16.7%
Lowest month
December: 4.7%
Difference
12.0 percentage points
Months with data
12 of 12

Category Insights

The highest price increase was in Food and non-alcoholic beverages with an average of 14.1%. The lowest price increase was in Transport with an average of -1.4%.

Highest increase
Food and non-alcoholic beverages: 14.1%
Lowest increase
Transport: -1.4%

Historical Context

Current inflation is 3.0% higher than the 5-year average of 6.6%.

5-year average
6.6%
10-year average
3.6%
All-time high (2022)
15.3%
All-time low (2014)
-1.4%

Trend

Inflation shows an upward trend. Compared to 2022, inflation has risen by -5.7 percentage point.

Change vs. previous year
-5.7 percentage points
Largest monthly swing
September: -12.4 percentage points

ECB Target

Inflation is 7.6% above the ECB target of 2.0%. This means purchasing power is declining faster than intended.

Purchasing Power

At this high inflation rate, purchasing power rapidly decreases. This has a major impact on households, especially without adequate salary increases.

What you could buy for €100 this year will cost approximately €109.60 next year at this inflation rate.

Multi-year trend

Monthly figures 2023

Inflation by category

Food and non-alcoholic beverages
14.1%
+4.5vs avg.
More details →
Alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics
6.1%
-3.5vs avg.
More details →
Clothing and footwear
5.8%
-3.8vs avg.
More details →
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels
7.7%
-1.9vs avg.
More details →
Furnishings, household equipment and maintenance
9.2%
-0.4vs avg.
More details →
Health
11.6%
+2.0vs avg.
More details →
Transport
-1.4%
-11.0vs avg.
More details →
Communication
5.5%
-4.1vs avg.
More details →
Recreation and culture
12.5%
+2.9vs avg.
More details →
Education
10.1%
+0.5vs avg.
More details →
Restaurants and hotels
13.6%
+4.0vs avg.
More details →
Miscellaneous goods and services
12.3%
+2.7vs avg.
More details →

Inflation differs per product group. Click on a category for the historical trend.

Month overview

Month Inflation Difference vs. 2022
January 16.7% +7.5
February 16.0% +6.0
March 14.0% +1.6
April 11.6% -2.8
May 10.1% -5.5
June 8.7% -8.2
July 8.5% -8.8
August 7.7% -10.0
September 6.3% -12.4
October 5.8% -11.8
November 5.4% -11.5
December 4.7% -12.2
Average 9.6%

Data source

Data from OECD. Last updated: 10/01/2026.

See also