Bulgaria’s National Assembly adopted a report on the implementation of the 2005 national budget.

The parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee reported that the GDP rose 5.5 per cent in 2005 year-on-year.

The international situation in 2005 and the re-orientation of Bulgaria's foreign trade to the EU exerted a positive influence on the development of the Bulgarian economy.

Industry showed the most growth, at 7.3 per cent. Its contribution to the overall growth of the gross added value remained second in size.

The services sector grew at slower rate, but contributed most to the growth of the gross added value, up 3.9 percentage points year-on-year.

The number of employed in 2005 rose by 2.4 per cent, and the number of unemployed by fell 16.4 per cent. The average level of unemployment is 10.1 per cent, down 1.9 percentage points year-on-year. The average wage stood at 163 euros in 2005, an increase of four per cent in real terms.

Inflation in Bulgaria reached an average of 5.04 per cent compared in 2005 compared to the forecast 3.6 per cent.

Direct foreign investments were at 1 879 million euros or 8.3 per cent of GDP.