The average income of each Bulgarian household increased by about 22 per cent year-on-year in August 2007, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said on October 15.

The average income for August was 648.67 leva, which was 21.7 per cent more than what a Bulgarian household was making a year ago. In July, the corresponding figure was 640.77 leva.

There was a more moderate decrease in the growth of the households’ expenses, which were 630.22 in August, or 18.3 per cent on an annual basis, compared to 20.4 per cent growth in July this year.
The average per capita income in August was 257.99 leva, and the average figure for the expenses was 250.70 leva.

Monthly wages had the largest portion of the disposable income of households, providing for 49.9 per cent of the incomes of all Bulgarians. They were followed by pensions with a 23 per cent share, while the revenues from family activities, including farming, generated 6.3 per cent. Incomes from entrepreneurial activity reached 5.4 per cent in August 2007, the NSI said.

On the spending side, Bulgarian households laid out most of their money 254.72 leva, or 40.4 per cent of all expenses, for food and beverage. In July, food and beverage piece accounted for 36.7 per cent of all expenses, or 236.39 leva, but the jump in inflation, which was most visible with this type of goods, brought it to its new peak.

Spending on electricity, water supply and fuels formed 11.9 per cent, or 75 leva, of the average households’ spending in August. Meanwhile, Bulgarians were spending 6.8 per cent, or 42.75 leva, of their family budget on transport services.