site.btaBulgarian Household Food Expenses Higher Than EU Average in 2021

Bulgarian households allocated fewer resources to cover for "housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" (19.1%) compared to the EU average in 2021. However, households in Bulgaria spent more for "food and non-alcoholic beverages" (20.1%) in comparison to the EU average (14.3%).

EU households allocated 25.0% of their expenditure to cover "housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels" in 2021, which is a 0.5% decrease compared to 2020, according to Eurostat data. 

Bulgarian household expenditures on transport (12.3%) are also higher than the EU average (12.1% - 0.5% increase compared to 2020).

Household expenditure increase for transport in the EU is connected to the gradual cancellation of the anti-COVID restrictions in 2021, which led to mobility increase among the EU citizens, Eurostat stated.

The same trends of increase were noted in the "Recreation and culture" (8.0%), "Restaurants and hotels" (6.6%), "Health" (4.7%) and "Clothing and footwear" (4.2%) categories. In Bulgaria these percentages are as follows: "Recreation and culture" (8.1%), "Restaurants and hotels" (5.2%), "Health" (7.2%) and "Clothing and footwear" (3.5%).

Eurostat data shows that household expenditures on education in Bulgaria for 2021 were also higher (1.5%), compared to the EU average (0.9%).