National statistics: Incomes grow slightly slower than spending, consumption of some staple foods declines

The quarterly average total income per person in a household in the fourth quarter of 2022 was BGN 2,426 and increased by 19.1% compared to the same quarter of 2021, according to National Statistical Institute data.

The quarterly total expenditure per person in a household in the fourth quarter of 2022 was BGN 2,259 and increased by 19.9% compared to the same quarter of 2021.

In the structure of total income, income from wages and salaries has the highest relative share (52.2%), followed by income from pensions (35.6%) and self-employment (4.6%). Compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, the relative share of income from wages and salaries decreased by 3.5 percentage points and that from self-employment by 0.3 percentage points. The share of pension income increased by 4.3 percentage points.

In the structure of total expenditure, food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for the largest relative share (31.2%), followed by housing (17.7%), taxes and social security (11.8%) and transport and communications (11.2%).

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2021, the relative share of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 1.9 percentage points, and that on leisure, cultural recreation and education by 0.8 percentage points. The share of expenditure on housing decreased by 1.5 percentage points and that on taxes and social security by 0.8 percentage points.

Consumption of most food staples per person in a household declined on average in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared with the same quarter in 2021.

The largest decreases were in consumption of bread and pasta, from 19.6 to 18.9 kilogrammes, meat, from 10.1 to 9.6 kilogrammes, and fruit, from 13.3 to 12.8 kilogrammes.

Consumption of vegetables increased from 16.6 to 17.1 kg, and of meat products from 3.9 to 4.1 kg.

Consumption of yoghurt, cheese and beans remained unchanged.