Pressure growns to ban grain from Ukraine
The government is reportedly considering banning the import of grains from Ukraine, following a similar move from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, in a bid to pacify local farmers.
BSP has already submitted a draft decision to Parliament to ban the import of wheat, sunflower, dry milk and bee-related products from Ukraine for six months. Pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane has also demanded the caretaker government immediately stop importing grain, sunflower and other agricultural products from Ukraine.
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that the import of Ukrainian grain "kills Bulgarian production", adding that imports from the war-torn country were not subject to phytosanitary control.
NPP shuts down again after leak
The sixth unit of the Kozloduy NPP was shut down again due to a technical error on Friday.
The same unit was out of operation for several weeks just months ago. It is likely that technical difficulties are once again caused by an unidentified leak.
The annual maintenance of the other reactor, currently functioning, must begin in May, raising the question whether Bulgaria will be able to use any of its reactors for an extended period in the spring.
Inflation erodes hike in incomes
Household incomes last year increased by 16.9% compared to 2021. On average, one member of a Bulgarian household earns BGN 9,008 for the year, or BGN 750 per month.
However, inflation absorbed most of the reported growth which, in real terms, is only 1.4%, according to data from the National Statistical Institute.
In the last ten years, the average total income per household person has increased 1.9 times (or by 87%) with 33.9% accumulated consumer inflation for the same period. The national statistics calculate that the real income index in 2022 compared to a decade earlier is 146.2%.
Pressure growns to ban grain from Ukraine
The government is reportedly considering banning the import of grains from Ukraine, following a similar move from Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, in a bid to pacify local farmers.
