May 10 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s consumer confidence index went up by 1.5 percentage points (pp) in April compared to the level recorded in January, the statistical office said on Friday.
The increase was driven by improved confidence among both rural and urban residents, posting a rise of 1.6 pp and 1.3 pp, respectively, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a quarterly report.
The assessment of the country's economic situation over the past year has improved, resulting in a 6.6 pp climb in the balance indicator. Rural dwellers expect this trend to continue over the next year, while urban residents are slightly more pessimistic than three months ago.
Consumer sentiment indicates a rise in consumer prices over the last 12 months, albeit at a slower pace, while expectations about inflation in the next 12 months are stronger, resulting in a 10.2 pp jump in the balance indicator.
Projections regarding unemployment over the next year are more pessimistic among both urban and rural populations.
However, there is a more positive outlook towards purchasing durable goods over the next 12 months, the NSI noted.