site.bta2019 Q4 Household Cost of Living at Lv 2,517 Per Month -Trade Union

February 12 (BTA) - During the fourth quarter of 2019, the monthly household (2 adults and 2 children) cost of living was 2,517 leva, according to the latest survey of the Institute for Trade Union and Social Studies with the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria. It was unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday by CITUB leader Plamen Dimitrov and expert Violina Ivanova. The figure comprises expenditures for foods, utilities, healthcare, education, healthcare, transport, clothing and recreation.

The per capita cost of living was 629.33 leva. In order to meet the cost of living each adult member should receive a net wage of 1,259 leva. By comparison, the average net wage for the period was 969 leva, by 23 per cent short of the cost of living threshold.

In Sofia, the household cost of living was 3,312 leva and the per capita cost of living was 812 leva.

Sixty-eight per cent of households live under the per capita cost of living threshold. By comparison in 2018 they were 69.8 per cent and in 2017 - 72.2 per cent.

CITUB leader Dimitrov said that there is a downward trend but still seven out of ten households live on less than the required means. Dimitrov said that numbers of the poor have increased and nearly 25 per cent live below the poverty line. In 2019, 1.8 million Bulgarians received per capita income below the poverty line and of these 1.3 million are pensioners.

The survey also found that big regional income disparities continue to exist. The GDP generated by Sofia City accounts for 40.4 per cent of the national GDP and five regions of Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Plovdiv make up around two thirds of the national GDP. The region of Vidin is at the bottom where the average wage was 35 per cent of the country's average.

The 4.4 per cent increase in the cost of living in a year was driven mainly by the higher prices of foods and meat. The price of meat and meat products increased by 15.6 per cent.

Thirty per cent of households fail to pay their utility bills on time. The proportion remains unchanged. By comparison they were 31 per cent and in 2018 were 30 per cent. RY/PP

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