Office spaces for rent has increased in total volume by 10 per cent since the beginning of 2007, according to Colliers International market research.

The total area of office spaces for rent class A and B offered on the market is 606 500 sq m. Most is on the outskirts of towns, Dnevnik daily reported.

Colliers International said that the increased demand for office space was due to the increased number of companies moving their headquarters and international companies entering the Bulgarian market.

Rental prices increased in the first half of 2007 with the most significant growth being in the extended centre

Trade centres are the fastest developing segment of the Bulgarian property market.

In the first half of 2007, building of three new trade centres began, Carrefour mall and Trade Centre Serdica in Sofia and Mall Stara Zagora.

Most preferred streets in Sofia continue being the most expensive ones offering office space for 20 to 125 euro a sq m compared to prices of 30 to 55 euro a sq m in the malls.