It was the eleventh consecutive decline in retail activity, but the smallest in the current sequence that began in March. Sales declined for non-food products by 19%, namely textiles, clothing and footwear (-27.3%) and auto fuel (-21.8%). In contrast, sales for food, beverages and tobacco went up 2.2%, after a 7.6% fall in December.

On a seasonally-adjusted monthly comparison basis, retail trade turnover at constant prices rose by 1.8% in January following a 1.3% increase in December.

In a separate statement, the statistics institute said that industrial production in Bulgaria fell 3.4% year-on-year in January, following a downwardly revised 3% slump in the previous month. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial production rose 0.8%, its highest growth in four months. Construction output also dropped 6.4% on year in January, following a downwardly revised 3.6% fall in the previous month.