Bulgarians have sighed with relief and left behind part of the winter cares as they "grabbed the green." There is hardly any other country where a similar expression exists, collecting in it so much relief and hope. Due to world crises and a flawed transition to democracy the phrase has a special meaning in the minds of Bulgarians.

Despite some weather anomalies spring has come to this country and the huge heating bills would stop coming. For a few months people are to forget the calls of energy experts who want to raise the price of electricity by 20 percent in the autumn. This would happen at the backdrop of almost frozen salaries and would make the gap between rich and poor wider.

But summer will come before that and Bulgarians prefer thinking about sea breeze and beaches…

Did you know that nearly 1 million Bulgarians, which is half of the working population, receive between 200 and 400 euro a month? This is the average salary in this country. Official statistics show that the average Bulgarian received a total of 2600 euro in the past year and the expenses totaled 2433 euro. There is no need to talk about pensioners in Bulgaria, 90 percent of whom barely make the ends meet. The green color of vegetables growing in village gardens brings optimism as horticultural success is of vital importance for the survival a great number of Bulgarians. The promised 3-percent rise of pensions in July would not change much the current situation of people.

Unemployed people in Bulgaria also expect a few brighter months. Seasonal jobs in tourism, agriculture and the processing industry will give them a chance for some revenues. The Labor Agency, however, reports that the situation on the labor market in Bulgaria has remained unchanged since the beginning of the year. 400,000 people registered in the labor bureaus in March and the level of unemployment remains 12.2 percent. The number would be bigger if those not registered in the bureaus were added.

But what happens with prices during the green season? 
Deflation continues for a third month in a row. Prices decline or remain unchanged due to the low purchasing power of the population. According to EU regulations, in the period April- June the National Statistical Institute needs to conduct a study on incomes and living conditions. The study will shed more light on the current state and dynamics of the incomes of Bulgarians, social stratification and unemployment.

English version:  Alexander Markov