Basic Goods in Bulgaria Now Cost More Than in Germany and France

Recent data indicate that the cost of basic foods in Bulgaria has surpassed that of several Western European countries despite the country’s formal entry into the Eurozone. Analysis by the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions and Industry of the “small consumer basket” highlights that five staple items - flour, rice, milk, oil, and banichka - are now priced higher in Bulgaria than in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and even in neighboring Romania and Croatia. Experts stress that this surge in prices is not directly linked to the adoption of the euro but stems from structural issues within the Bulgarian economy, particularly weak competition in domestic markets....