The National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria conducted short business survey amongst non-financial enterprises aiming to collect and present to the society and policy makers information on the economic effects from the declared state of emergency and the ensuing epidemic situation in the country due to COVID-19. In December 2021, 28.2% of the responding non-financial enterprises declared a decrease in revenues from sales of goods and services compared to November 2021, 55.9% declared no change and 15.5% - an increase. A year earlier (December 2020), a decrease in revenues from sales of goods and services compared to previous month declared 39.0% of the responding non-financial enterprises, 46.4% declared no change and 14.5% - an increase.
The breakdown by economic sectors showed that in December 2021, 34.0% of the non-financial enterprises in „Arts, entertainment and recreation, repair of household goods and other services“ had a decrease in revenues from sales of goods and services, followed by „Industry“ with 33.4% and „Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; food service activities“ with 31.9% .
As regards the employees, 18.2% from the responding non-financial enterprises answered that they had to use „Paid leave“ as a measure for reducing the effects from the state of emergency and the epidemic situation (25.3% in December 2020), followed by „Teleworking“ - 10.0% (16.4% in December 2020) and „Unpaid leave“ - 9.6% (20.3% in December 2020). In December 2021, 5.2% from the responding nonfinancial enterprises answered that they had to employ new staff (4.8% in December 2020).
In the following month, 94.4% from the responding non-financial enterprises expect that they will be able to continue their current activity, 2.5% expect to stop performing economic activity temporary and 1.8% expect to close their business