Poll finds sharp improvement in business sentiment in Bulgaria in January

A regular monthly poll by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) has found that business sentiment in Bulgaria sharply improved in January, with the largest increase in the indicator in the past four years.

The total business climate indicator was four percentage points up on December, with business sentiment up in all four sectors surveyed – industry, construction, retail trade and services.

This is in contrast to the downturns in business sentiment in Bulgaria in the final months of 2025.

In January 2026, the largest increase in business sentiment was in the service sector, up by 7.2 percentage points, with managers more favourable about the business situation, while their forecasts about the coming three months had improved, the NSI said.

In the construction sector, the indicator was up by 4.8 percentage points, with managers holding improved expectations.

In the industry sector, the indicator was up by three percentage points, with managers optimistic in their views about the business situation.

The retail trade indicator was up by 2.2 percentage points, mainly due to retailers’ optimistic expectations about the business situation over the next six months, though their expectations about both the volume of sales and the orders placed with suppliers over the next three months were reserved, the NSI said.

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