Sat, Feb 11 2012
Year-on-year inflation in Bulgaria fell to single-digits after the consumer price index (CPI) in November shrunk by 0.1 per cent, preliminary data released by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on December 12 2008 showed. After five months of steady decline, year-on-year inflation fell to 9.1 per cent at end-November, dropping sharply from 10.9 per cent a month earlier.
Deflation in November was caused by the 0.4 per cent drops in non-food and services prices. Food prices were 0.4 per cent higher for the month.
The harmonised consumer price index (CPI), the figure calculated by the statistics board for comparison with inflation in the European Union, recorded an even larger recoil, shrinking by 0.4 per cent in November, while the year-on-year inflation figure fell to 8.8 per cent. In October, the harmonised CPI grew by 0.1 per cent and was 11.2 per cent year-on-year.
The Cabinet had targeted a harmonised inflation figure of 4.5 per cent for the year, according to the macroeconomic framework used to draft the 2008 budget, and has not officially revised it.
Bulgarian National Bank's most recent forecast, issued in July, said that it expected year-on-year inflation, which peaked at a ten-year high of 15.3 per cent in June, to go down in the second half of the year and reach eight per cent by end-2008. Cumulative inflation through November was 7.6 per cent, according to NSI data.
The European Commission, which was less optimistic in its forecast, expects end-year inflation to be 9.9 per cent.
Producer prices in Bulgaria dipped for a seventh month in a row compared to the year-ago period, falling by 10.6 per cent in July, while Bulgaria’s business sentiment plunged to a new nine-year bottom in August.
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.