site.btaBusiness Climate Improves in January 2026 M/M

Bulgaria’s overall business climate indicator rose by 4 points in January 2026 from December 2025, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on Friday.

The indicator increased across industry, construction, retail trade and services, with the strongest rise in services.

In January, the business climate in industry indicator rose by 3 points, driven by more optimistic assessments and expectations among industrial managers about their companies’ business situation.

The business climate in construction indicator climbed by 4.8 points.

In retail trade, the indicator increased by 2.2 points, mainly because retailers were more optimistic about their companies’ business situation over the next six months.

In services, the indicator rose by 7.2 points.

An uncertain economic environment, labour shortages and material prices remained among the main factors holding back business development.

NSI data showed that in December 2025, the overall business climate indicator fell by 3.1 points from the previous month, with declines across all observed sectors: industry, construction, retail trade and services.