2025.12.3009:25:28UTC+00Bulgaria Business Confidence Lowest Since 2020

In December 2025, Bulgaria's industrial business climate indicator declined to 12.5 from November's 14.6, marking its lowest point since December 2020. The assessment of current production activity shifted into negative territory at -2.9, down from 1.6, while total orders remained consistently weak at -15.3, compared to -15.7 previously. Both domestic and foreign demands decreased, with domestic demand dropping to -20.3 from -19.3 and foreign demand sliding to -27.7 from -23.6. The stock levels of finished goods also reduced, registering -2.5 from the previous month's -0.8. Industrial confidence saw a decline, moving from -1.3% to -3.1%, and the employment outlook also softened, with a moderation from 2.1 to 1.2. Business expectations for the upcoming six months eased to 10.6, down from 12.2. On a more optimistic note, production expectations for the forthcoming three months showed improvement, increasing to 9.0 from 5.6, and anticipated selling prices are on the rise, moving to 14.8 from 10.8. However, significant challenges persist, primarily due to the uncertain economic environment, which rose to 50.5 from 45.6, and labor shortages, which increased to 34.8 from 33.6. Meanwhile, the proportion of firms experiencing no difficulties declined to 12.8 from 14.4.