site.btaBulgaria Reports Monthly Decline in Services Output in January, Slight Increase Y/Y

Bulgaria’s services sector output declined by 1.4% in January 2026 compared with December 2025, according to preliminary estimates published Friday by Eurostat. On an annual basis, however, a slight increase of 0.4% was recorded.

Across the European Union and the eurozone as a whole, services output increased. In January 2026 compared with the previous month, services production rose by 1.2% in the eurozone and by 0.6% in the EU. In December, the indicator remained unchanged in the eurozone and increased by 0.4% in the EU.

Compared with January 2025, services output increased by 1.5% in the eurozone and by 1.4% in the EU.

By sector, the strongest monthly growth in the eurozone in January was recorded in information and communication services, which rose by 4.3%. Increases were also seen in transport and storage services, up 1.1%, as well as in real estate activities, up 0.4%, and professional, scientific, and technical activities, up 0.2%.

Declines were registered in accommodation and food services, down 0.7%, and in administrative and support service activities, down 0.5%.

A similar pattern was seen across the EU, with information and communication services rising by 3.4% and transport and storage by 0.4%, while accommodation and food services declined by 0.7%. Output also fell in real estate activities, down 1.0%, and in administrative services, down 0.4%.

Among EU member states, the strongest monthly increase was recorded in Estonia, up 22.1%, followed by Greece at 4.9% and Germany at 2.9%.

The steepest declines were recorded in Romania, down 10.6%, followed by Denmark at 5.2% and Poland at 5.1%.

On an annual basis, the eurozone saw the strongest growth in information and communication services, up 6.6%, as well as in real estate activities, up 1.2%, and professional services, up 0.9%.

Declines were recorded in administrative services, down 1.1%, and in accommodation and food services, down 0.4%.

Across the EU, information and communication services increased by 5.8%, while transport and storage rose by 0.6%. Declines were reported in administrative services, down 0.9%, and in accommodation and food services, down 0.3%.

Among the countries with the highest annual growth were Estonia, up 20.0%, Greece, up 7.6%, and Slovenia at 5.2%.

The largest annual declines were recorded in Romania, down 5.8%, Hungary at 5.3%, and Luxembourg at 2.2%.