Prices of flour, rice, milk, and cucumbers are the highest in Bulgaria within EU

In April, the highest increase in retail prices of basic goods since the beginning of the year was recorded - 2%. Since June last year, the price increase has reached 7.5%. This is shown by data from monitoring the prices of 21 basic consumer goods, conducted monthly by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB)

The union reports the largest increases in cucumbers - 73%, and tomatoes - 47%, which are currently imported from the Middle East and neighboring countries.

There is also a noticeable rise in the prices of bread, milk, rice, and beans, which are traditional staples on the Bulgarian table. The price of the basic “Dobrudzha” bread has increased by nearly 8% in less than a year, while the price of chicken meat has risen by nearly 5% over the same period, according to the union’s observations. The reasons cited include higher feed costs, increased electricity prices for production, as well as more expensive transportation and packaging.

CITUB also reports speculative price increases for some basic goods along the supply chain. For rice, beans, and milk, markups in some places reach up to 67%, which calls for stricter state control. The president of CITUB, Plamen Dimitrov, summarizes:

“The conclusion is that prices in Bulgria are rising for goods in the small consumer basket, and for some goods and services, the increases are not market-justified. Moreover, prices here are higher even than in countries such as Germany, France, and Netherlands. There is no market logic for such goods to have the highest prices in the poorest European country, which is Bulgaria. The most expensive flour, rice, and fresh milk are currently in Bulgaria.”

Transport service prices have increased by 15% since the beginning of the year. At gas stations in Bulgaria, the union observes a 20% increase in the price of the most sold gasoline A95 compared to January - currently priced at €1.50 per liter. The largest increase is in diesel - 45%, with retail prices now exceeding €1.70 per liter.

In this context, CITUB experts recommend urgent government measures to protect against energy poverty.

According to statistics, around 2 million Bulgarians live below the poverty line. CITUB recommends monthly assistance of €60 for the most vulnerable (the caretaker government introduced a similar aid of €20), for those living with an income twice below the poverty threshold, which since the beginning of 2026 stands at €390.63.

Author: Gergana Mancheva
Editor: Miglena Ivanova