site.btaSmall Consumer Basket Reaches EUR 59.48, CITUB Data Shows

The small consumer basket reached EUR 59.48 in February, which constitutes a 1.2% increase compared to January and 4.8% compared to June 2025, announced Violeta Ivanova, Deputy Director of the Institute for Social and Trade Union Research and Training of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). She presented the Union's data in connection with monitoring prices from the small consumer basket in February in a press conference on Friday. 

According to the data, there was a more significant increase in tomatoes – 6.6%, cucumbers – 7.3%, and bread – 1,4%, compared to January. The price of cucumbers increased by 73.7% compared to June 2025 and bread has become more expensive by 6.3% compared to the same period. For mineral water and coffee, there was a price hold in February compared to January, but compared to June 2025, the growth for water was 10.9%, and for espresso coffee in a cup the increase was 43%.

Regarding services, she pointed out that there was a 0.8% increase in the price of paid parking compared to January, and the prices of taxi services have remained stable over the last month, but since the beginning of the year they have increased by 8.4% in their daily rate and a 9.2% increase in the nightly rate. There is a 0.6% increase in the price of hairdressing services compared to January.

CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov pointed out that differences are maintained between the retail price and the wholesale price, announced every week by the Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets. He gave an example of cow's cheese and fresh milk, which are at 125% of the average European price level. Dimitrov said that CITUB insists on investigative actions by the regulator, adding that rice and white beans have over 60% difference between retail and wholesale prices.

Dimitrov explained that regional differences reach 20% for some goods. He added that there is a EUR 2 difference in the price of cheese between Gabrovo and Veliko Tarnovo. CITUB reported a EUR 1.49 higher price for chilled chicken in Dobrich compared to Varna, EUR 1.83 more expensive pork leg in Vidin compared to Burgas, and EUR 1.03 more expensive eggs in Blagoevgrad compared to Lovech.

Regarding salaries, Dimitrov noted that the average salary has a real growth of 23.3% for 2025 compared to 2021. In the public sector, the increase is 18.5%, and in the private sector - 23.5%. The minimum wage has a real increase of 30.9% from 2021 to 2026.

Regarding the main conclusions of the Consolidated Fiscal Programme for 2025, Dimitrov explained that total revenues are over BGN 86 billion, and expenditures are over BGN 92 billion. According to Dimitrov, Bulgaria's own revenues for 2025 can cover the necessary expenses, including salaries and pensions, and current expenses, excluding capital expenditures.