Quite a Simple Answer - Pay More Wages and Pensions!

The less you earn the less tax you pay, so the answer to the problem is quite simply to increase earnings and pensions. Of course it is never as easy as that with competition for jobs in this current world economic climate.

Bulgaria's average taxable income stood at 583.56 leva in June, down by nine leva compared to May and by 15 leva compared to April, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) said.

According to NSI's reports for previous years, the country's taxable income traditionally declines in June, July and August. Statistical data for May and June 2011 also showed a drop in the average salary in the country, mainly due to the growth in the grey economy and the recruitment of low-paid workers in hotels, restaurants, agriculture and other seasonal industries. As a result, employment growth has led to a reduction in the average income of the population.According to Government estimates, the average taxable income should reach 610 leva this year to allow the country meet its insurance revenue targets. Otherwise, the state will seen an additional deficit, which will need to be filled up with the money from all taxpayers, including pensioners.

Source: http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/08/16/1139592_bulgarias-average-taxable-income-declines-in-june

Gas Prices Up in Bulgaria - Again!

More misery for Bulgarians coming as this increase is implemented. who suffers the most? The old who need heat in the winter the most! Pity there isn't contingency plans for the poorest people.

Bulgaria's state-run gas monopoly Bulgargas plans to propose a 19.98 per cent increase in natural gas prices from October, according to the company's preliminary estimates published on August 12 2011.

In view of the current market environment, Bulgargas will ask that natural gas prices be increased to 668.59 leva a 1000 cu m from 557.22 leva currently.

"The reasons for the spike are the higher prices of alternative oil products in the past months, the appreciation of the Bulgarian currency against the US dollar and the increased gas imports in the fourth quarter of 2011," Bulgargas said.

The company is to submit its proposal to the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) on September 10, while the regulator will set the new gas tariffs at the end of September.

Bulgargas boosted its revenue by 235 million leva to 848 million leva in the first half of 2011, while its net profit stood at 17.4 million leva. Its net result, however, was negative, at 3.76 million leva, due to currency differences.

Source: http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/08/14/1138890_bulgargas-to-seek-20per-cent-increase-in-gas-prices

Holidays Booming in Bulgaria

Good news for overseas holiday makers and Bulgarian business as figures indicate that this year tourist shows the best results in 10 years. Let's hope that the money invested is ploughed back into the industry to improve the resorts even further.

Bulgaria's 2011 summer tourist season will most likely end up being the most successful in terms of revenues in the past ten years, various data indicates.

The Institute for Analysis and Assessment in Tourism, a think-tank, estimated that 6.6 million tourists will have visited the Bulgarian Black Sea by the end of the season in August 2011. This means a growth of the number of tourists by some 14% with respect to their numbers in 2010.

According to estimates of the Varna Tourism Chamber, this summer Bulgaria is seeing 20% more tourists from Russia, as well as smaller increases in the number of tourists from Germany, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, and Israel. Only the Polish tourists already account for 15% of all bookings.

There is a predicted a rise in the numbers of tourists from Arab nations such as Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.

Source: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=131118

Bulgarian Gypsies Sentenced To Jail - Unusual!

I find this quite strange. Most crimes committed by Gypsies go by the board; they never get rounded up and punished. But this particular crime hit a nerve with Bulgarians hence the media coverage and resulting sentences.

Nine Roma cherry thieves have been sentenced to 92 years in prison for the gruesome killing of an orchard farmer two years ago, an appeals court ruled on Friday.

Plamen Momchilov, 42, was beaten to death by the Roma after he tried to stop them from invading the garden he guarded and steal the valuable cherries.

The crime occurred on June 23, 2009 in a village near the town of Kyustendil, Western Bulgaria.

The Roma, who were armed with sticks and shovel handles, have confessed to the crime. They have been until now free, pending the appeal.

The attack triggered an outrage in the region, prompting authorities to impose tough measures and deploy armed police, equipped with night-vision goggles.

Source: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=131094 

Football Defeat Embarrassing For Bulgaria

One of the most embarrassing defeats in years took place last night when lowly Belarus won a match against the odds. Bulgaria will have to regroup and take stock of the result to find out where they went wrong for the next match.

Belarus national football squad put to shame Bulgaria and its Germancoach Lothar Matthaeus after defeating it 1:0 in a friendly game late on Wednesday.

The team of Belarus was in control of the game during most of the time thanks to the Bulgarians' weak performance and can only feel sorry for missing the chance to score more goals.

Sergey Kislyak scored the only goal from a rebound in the 33rd minute after Vladislav Stoyanov failed to block Dmitri Verkhovtsov's shot from inside the box.

The home side managed to fend off the Bulgarian attacks and hold on to their lead to claim the victory mainly because of the unimaginative and sluggish game of the Bulgarians.

Source: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=131029