The Bulgarian National Bank, BNB, has lowered the macroeconomic GDP growth outlook by 0.2%, and believes that by the end of 2021 it will be 3.9%.

“In view of the postponement of the implementation of nationally-financed infrastructure projects, as well as the slower rate of absorption of funding under EU programmes during the year and the development of business indicators, during the second half of the year we are expecting companies to remain wary with regard to investment costs,” are some of the motives for the BNB’s pessimism.

The BNB is expecting the GDP growth rate to be 4.7% in 2022, and 3.8% in 2023. Inflation in 2021 is expected to reach 3.8%, though the forecast does not register the price volatility in energy.