Unemployment in Bulgaria in January 2019 was 4.8 per cent, unchanged from December 2018 and down from 5.6 per cent in January 2018, European Union statistics agency Eurostat said. However, the percentage in December represented 158 000 people, while in January 2019 it represented 159 000 people, Eurostat said. Youth unemployment in Bulgaria was 11.8 per cent in January 2019, the same percentage as in January 2018. In turn, the percentage in January 2019 represented 18 000 under-25s in Bulgaria, while in January 2018, it represented 19 000. The euro zone (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8 per cent in January 2019, stable compared with December 2018 and down from 8.6 per cent in January 2018. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro zone since October 2008. The EU28 unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent in January 2019, down from 6.6 per cent in December 2018 and from 7.2 per cent in January 2018. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000.

Bulgaria's finance ministry said that it expects the consolidated budget to show a surplus of BGN 1.5 billion at the end of February, equivalent to 1.3% of the projected 2019 gross domestic product (GDP). Consolidated budget revenues are expected to be BGN 212.5 million higher on the year at BGN 7.24 billion at the end of February, or 16.5% of the full-year plan, the ministry said. Consolidated budget expenditures at the end of February are projected to be equal to 12.9% of the full-year plan, or BGN 5.74 billion , up from BGN 5.46 billion at the end of February 2018. In a separate statement the finance ministry said that country's January consolidated budget showed a surplus of BGN 1 billion equivalent to 0.9% of the projected GDP. Bulgaria's 2019 budget targets a deficit equivalent to 0.5% of the projected GDP, which is expected to grow by a real 3.7% to BGN 116.4 billion.

The French company Latecoere doubles its capacity to produce aviation components near Plovdiv and in 2019 the area of its plant will grow by 4,000 sq. m. This was announced by Olivier Keruel, manager of Latecoere Bulgaria. The investment in a building and machinery is worth EUR 5 million and is part of the entire EUR 15 million project that will be funded by the parent company's own funds. The construction of the new hall was assigned to Sienit, which built the first stage of the plant. The plan will be completed in the summer of this year, and from September will start production in the new part of the plant. The plant near Plovdiv has been in operation for about half a year and currently it produces aircraft cabinets for several Airbus models. According to Olivier Keruel, in order for the enterprise to work successfully in Bulgaria, the project must pass through two stages. The company refrained from announcing the preliminary results of its activity in 2018 and the plans for 2019 but predicted that in the third year of its creation, Latecoere Bulgaria would make a profit.

State-owned Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) said that, together with its units Bulgartransgaz and Bulgargaz, it has challenged before the EU's General Court the EUR 77.1 million fine imposed on the three companies by the European Commission for blocking competitors' access to key gas infrastructure. "BEH and its subsidiaries do not accept the Commission’s findings that they have abused a dominant position on the Bulgarian gas market," BEH said in a statement. BEH and its units are seeking annulment of the Commission's decision to fine them. In December, the Commission said that between 2010 and 2015, the BEH group blocked access to the sole import pipeline bringing gas into Bulgaria, the country's only gas storage facility - Chiren, and the domestic gas transmission network. Without access to this essential infrastructure, it was impossible for potential competitors to enter wholesale gas supply markets in Bulgaria. This prevented any development of competition and ensured a near monopoly for Bulgargaz. BEH pools together state-owned energy companies, including gas infrastructure operator Bulgartransgaz and gas supplier Bulgargaz. Bulgaria imports almost all the natural gas it needs from Russia via a pipeline crossing Ukraine, Moldova and Romania.

Seven Bulgarian companies have found their place in the annual ranking of the prestigious business magazine Financial Times, which ranks companies for revenue growth in three years. This year, the threshold for entering the top 1 000 is even higher - 37.7 %, compared to 34.6% last year. At 448 position is Accedia, which works in the IT field. It recorded 388% growth to EUR 4.5 million. 449the place is for Bulpros Consulting with a 387% increase to EUR 31 million. 476 is Donau Star BG EOOD, which deals with commercial shipping and forwarding. The company increased its revenue by 367% to EUR 2.4 million. 642 is Next Consult, a company for business and management consulting, digital marketing and IT solutions. Its revenue reached EUR 1.6 million and recorded EUR 1.6 million. The 908 position is Smart Organic, a manufacturer and distributor of bio products. Revenue growth is 182% to EUR 12.3 million. The 937 position is the IT company Scale Focus with 174% growth to EUR 13.4 million. The 954 position is Dynaphos, which in Bulgaria offers the brand products in the field of studio lighting and equipment. Revenue growth is 171% to EUR 2.3 million.

Overgas Inc. has joined the lawsuit of Polish gas operator PGNiG, which challenges the European Commission's anti-monopoly decision against Gazprom. "On 28 February 2019, the European Court of Justice informed PGNiG that PGNiG was also joined by Overgas Inc., which deals with distribution and sale of gas on the Bulgarian market, to the complaint of the European Commission's decision. In October, the Polish oil and gas company PGNiG appealed against the European Commission's decision on the Gazprom anti-monopoly case. A representative of the European Commission said the Commission would defend its decision on this case in court. In 2012, the European Commission initiated an anti-monopoly investigation into Gazprom's operations in a number of European Union countries.

The construction of Belene NPP in Bulgaria can begin in 2020-2021, the Chinese CNNC, the US GE and the French Framatome may be competitors of Rosatom in the procedure. It became clear that Rosatom is ready to take part in the tender for the resumption of the construction of Belene NPP in Bulgaria on an equal footing with the other bidders. The benefit of Rosatom may be the fact that the NPP's main technological equipment is manufactured in Russia. The equipment is already produced and is located in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian telecommunications and IoT products company Allterco said that its consolidated net profit excluding minority interest edged up to BGN 2.8 million in 2018 from BGN 2.7 million the year before. The company grew its revenue to BGN 45 million last year from BGN 39.8 million in 2017. Revenue from sale of services increased to BGN 33.6 million from BGN 31.8 million a year earlier, while goods sales rose to BGN 10.9 million from BGN 7.4 million in 2017. Total expenses grew to BGN 41.9 million last year from BGN 36.8 million the year before, on the back of higher cost of goods sold, as well as more expenses for hired services and salaries. At the end of 2018, Allterco's shareholders approved a proposal to sell the company's five telecommunications subsidiaries to Norway's LINK Mobility Group for a price of at least EUR 7.9 million. The deal includes all shares in Allterco's units in Bulgaria - Teravoice, Tera Communications and Allterpay, as well as its Romania-based subsidiary Teracomm RO and Macedonia-based Tera Communications DOOEL. The deal was initially expected to be completed by the end of April, but the negotiations between the two companies were temporarily suspended as Victory Partners VII Norway launched a takeover offer for LINK Mobility Group.

The European Commission is ready to negotiate with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 project on behalf of the European Union, if it receives the mandate of the EU Council, the request for which was already rejected in 2017, Dominique Ristory, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Energy, said. "Before the proposed amendment to this directive back in June 2017, the amendment came in November, but we suggested negotiating mandate with the Russian Federation. This mandate is still on the table in Council and if the Council wants to move forward, we are willing to shoulder our responsibilities in the negotiations, once of course we have the mandate to that effect," he said. The European Commission asked the EU member-states to give it a mandate to negotiate with Russia on Nord Stream 2 and to secure the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with Russia to regulate this project. By doing this it hoped to ensure Brussels’ control over the project and to transfer the decision on the construction of this gas pipeline from the level of interstate relations between the Russian Federation and Germany to the level of relations between the Russian Federation and the entire European Union.

The US plans to end preferential trade status for India, under a scheme which allows certain products to enter the US duty-free. President Donald Trump said India had failed to assure the US it would provide reasonable access to its markets. India said the US move would have a "minimal economic impact". The US will also end Turkey's preferential trade status, saying it no longer qualifies. It is the latest US attempt to counter what it sees as unfair trade practices. Mr Trump has pledged to reduce US trade deficits, and has repeatedly called out India for high tariffs. As a result, he directed the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office to remove India from a programme that grants it preferential trade treatment. Preferential trade treatment for India currently allows $5.6bn (£4.3bn) worth of exports to enter the United States duty free. In a letter to Congress, the US president said India had "not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets of India". Under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme, "certain products can enter the US duty-free if the beneficiary developing country meets a set of criteria established by Congress".

China lowered its economic growth target and unveiled tax cuts as the country struggles with a crackdown on debt, a slowing global economy and a trade war with the United States. The 6.0 to 6.5 percent estimate for 2019 was released in a work report for the opening session of the annual National People's Congress, China's rubber-stamp parliament. The slowdown and trade war have turned into major challenges for President Xi Jinping, one year after the NPC boosted his status as the country's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong by abolishing term limits and etching his name into China's constitution. Nearly 3,000 delegates from across the country gathered under smoggy skies and tight security for the two-week session, with legislation aimed at improving conditions for foreign investors topping the agenda. "We have made a moderate adjustment to our projection on the basis of a thorough assessment of destabilising factors and uncertainties affecting the economic performance," the work report said.