site.btaOver 75% of Bulgarians Still Struggle with Daily Expenses

In the first quarter of 2023, the share of individuals who struggled to meet their daily expenses was relatively high - over 75%, the National Statistical Institute said. Some 35.8% of individuals had some difficulties, 26.8% said covering daily
expenses as difficult, and 14.2% - as very difficult. The share of persons who struggle with their daily expenses increased by 0.6 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Some 19.7% of individuals can fairly easily covered their daily expenses, and only 3.5% do not experience any difficulties. In total, the share of persons without difficulties in the first quarter of 2023 increased by 1.5 percentage points compared with the first quarter of 2022.

An additional question was added to the questionnaire whether the household was able to afford sufficient level of energy consumption. Some 31.2% of individuals answered that they limited their energy consumption. Some 28.8% of people living in urban areas indicated that they could not afford sufficient level of energy consumption. In villages, the share of persons with energy consumption restrictions is 37.8% - 9 percentage points more than in cities.

During the first quarter of 2023, for 74.6% of the persons, household income remained unchanged compared with the last 12 months. This share increased by 1.6 percentage points compared to the same quarter of 2022. An increase in income was indicated by 20.1% of the persons, which is 1.6 percentage points more compared to the first quarter of 2022, when 18.5% of the persons had an increase. A decrease in income for the last 12 months was indicated by 5.3% of the persons, which is 3.2 percentage points less compared to the first quarter of 2022.