Bulgaria's economy grew 2.5% in the third quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, according to flash estimates from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.6% from the second quarter.
The figures are seasonally adjusted, which removes the usual differences between seasons.
The NSI says the growth from the second quarter came from final consumption, which rose 1.4%. This is the money people and the state spend on goods and services. Over the year, consumption is up 6.3%.
At current prices, consumption came to 27,397.8m euros, or 77.2% of GDP. That is the biggest share of the economy.
Total GDP for the quarter is 35,506.3m euros. Gross value added, which is the value firms create, is 30,962.6m euros. It grew 1.9% over the year and 0.4% from the second quarter.
Investment in buildings, machinery and equipment, which statisticians call gross fixed capital formation, is 0.5% lower than a year earlier. Gross capital formation makes up 21.8% of GDP, or 7,751.3m euros.
Exports of goods and services fell 5.5% from a year earlier, while imports fell 1%. The trade balance with other countries is positive.
Growth was stronger in the first two quarters of the year. In the first quarter, annual growth was 2.9%, and GDP was 0.7% higher than in the last three months of 2025. In the second quarter, annual growth was 2.8%, and GDP was again 0.7% higher than in the first quarter.