In April, the value of Bulgaria’s so-called "small consumer basket" reached 61.05 euros, marking a 2% increase compared with March, according to data presented by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB). The figures were released at a press conference based on monthly monitoring of essential goods, carried out in the context of preparations for the country’s planned euro adoption from January 1.

CITUB has been tracking prices of 21 basic products, including 20 food items and one non-food good, across 81 municipalities and more than 600 retail outlets. Fuel and transport services are also part of the monitoring, which the union says is intended to help detect unjustified price increases and unfair market practices.

The union reported a noticeable rise in the overall cost of essential goods, warning that household purchasing power could deteriorate further. “A significant increase in the prices of goods in the small consumer basket” was observed, with expectations of continued pressure on incomes as price trends persist.

Among the most pronounced increases were cucumbers, up 73.7%, tomatoes, up 47.4%, eggs, up around 29%, and gasoline, which rose by 16.6%. Moderate increases were also recorded for staple products such as bread, meat, apples and lemons, while cheese saw a slight decrease and other dairy products remained largely stable.

CITUB’s chief economist Luboslav Kostov highlighted a structural decline in livestock numbers over recent years. According to the data, dairy cows have dropped by 26% over five years, ewes by 46%, goats by 42%, while buffalo herds also declined. The number of farms has fallen sharply across all categories, with dairy cattle farms decreasing from 17,612 to 6,076, sheep farms from 19,450 to 6,870, goat farms from 10,240 to 3,071, and buffalo farms from 487 to 357.

CITUB president Plamen Dimitrov pointed to significant fuel and transport price growth between January and April 2026. Gasoline A95 rose by 16.8%, diesel by 36%, and propane-butane gas by 34.5%, while intercity bus transport tickets increased by 15.5%.

Dimitrov reiterated the union’s call for a cap on fuel-related price surcharges, citing examples of similar measures in other European countries. “The measures from the state were late,” he said, stressing that intervention should have come earlier.

He also noted that the union is still awaiting a meeting of the Tripartite Council to discuss a broader package of anti-inflation measures. However, he said such a meeting has not yet been scheduled, leaving key policy responses unresolved at this stage.