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 November 2021, 28.3% of the responding non-financial enterprises declared a decrease in revenues from sales of goods and services compared to October 2021, 54.5% declared no change and 16.7% - an increase. A year earlier (November 2020), a decrease in revenues from sales of goods and services compared to previous month declared 41.7% of the responding non-financial enterprises, 46.1% declared no change and 11.8% - an increase.
The breakdown by economic sectors showed that in November 2021, 39.6% 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 ‘Real estate activities’ with 33.3% and ‘Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; transportation and storage; food service activities’ with 31.9%.
As regards the employees, 13.1% 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 (20.4% in November 2020), followed by ‘Teleworking’ - 10.4% (18.0% in November 2020) and ‘Unpaid leave’ - 10.3% (17.0% in November 2020). In November 2021, 6.0% from the responding non[1]financial enterprises answered that they had to employ new staff (6.5% in November 2020).