ries in transition. Inflation moves, however, were not flat within the year, oscillating between the steep 3% of September and negative 1.9% in June computed on a monthly basis. Such slides in inflation were not regarded as a positive trend as they revealed weaker purchasing power of the population and contraction in the domestic consumption. A major influence had the corporate cost cutting in the state sector, stemming from the necessity to rehabilitate or close the highly indebted and unprofitable enterprises. External deflationary forces also occurred as the national currency strengthened against the dollar and dragged on lower import prices and weaker export opportunities. Source: Monthly BulletinsWAGES AND UNEMPLOYMENTThe CPI-adjusted increase in the wages was 22.4% in 2000, reaching USD 111.4 vs the average of USD 78.2 in 1999. Pensions also grew, noting an increase of 36.3%, and now accounting for USD 35 on average. In view of the modest GDP per capita, no vigorous increases are expected to occur in 2001. The government has already set a 10% limit for the budget sector, and 100 major state-owned companies faced salary restrictions to the amounts reported as at the end of the past September. The labour productivity was estimated only modest according to preliminary figures.Rate of unemployment was also reduced to less than 12% in the second half of the year pushing away the turmoil of five years ago, when initial stages of restructuring brought about unemployment rate of over 15%. Significant monthly fluctuations are, however, a fact as employment base is the country is estimated to just slightly over 2 million persons. GDP (Growth Domestic Product).The GDP is on a rise, expected to note the peak acceleration of the 90saccording to preliminary data. Government estimates point on growth of 3.5% on annual basis. The value of Bulgarias GDP now amounts to around BGL 22,4297 trillion according to preliminary data, which...
