Cash still reigns in Bulgaria
Until 2017, Bulgaria saw a moderate but steady decline in its shadow economy, dropping from nearly 32% to 30% of GDP. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic reversed that trend, pushing the informal sector to 34.6% of GDP by 2023-equivalent to 60 billion levs and the highest rate in the EU, according to a study commissioned by Visa Bulgaria and conducted by Kearney. In six sectors, including hospitality, agriculture, and construction, the shadow economy exceeds 50%, with wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing showing the largest absolute values. The study also highlights that Bulgarians make significantly fewer digital payments than the EU average, with 54% still preferring cash out of habit rather than lack of access to non-cash options.Families of nightclub fire patients thank Bulgaria
The parents of the children and young adults discharged from Bulgaria's Pirogov Hospital after being injured in a nightclub fire in Kočani, North Macedonia, expressed deep gratitude to the Bulgarian people and blood donors. The four patients-aged 15, 16, 28, and 31-were admitted in critical condition 21 days ago and have since undergone more than a dozen major surgeries.
According to Prof. Maya Argirova, head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic, they still face months or even years of reconstructive procedures. The remaining four patients are in serious but stable condition and continue to receive intensive care.
Drinking but not drunk
In 2024, non-alcoholic beer consumption in Bulgaria exceeded 80,000 hectoliters, marking a 35% increase, according to the Union of Brewers. The industry saw record investments of 80 million levs in beer and malt production, with a 40% rise in long-term assets compared to 2023. Beer-related revenues for the state budget surpassed 435 million levs, while the sector's added value reached 470 million levs, with total beer sales amounting to 5.16 million hectoliters.
The union's members used fully recyclable packaging, reducing PET bottle usage by 37% since 2020 and saving the production of 4,100 tons of glass bottles in the past year.
