A new study by Assoc. Prof. Kaloyan Ganev and Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Simeonova-Ganeva from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA), together with Prof. Martin Ivanov from the Department of Sociology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, presents comprehensive data on the long-term dynamics of consumer prices and inflation in Bulgaria over the period 1887–2023.

The article, titled “Consumer Price Indices: Bridging Post-liberation, Communism, and Post-communism in Bulgaria”, introduces an innovative approach to constructing a historical time series for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This series connects three key stages of Bulgaria’s economic history: post-liberation modernization, the centrally planned economy, and the market reforms after 1989.

The study conducts a retrospective analysis of price collection practices and household budget surveys in Bulgaria from the early 1880s to the present. It reviews all existing CPI indices published by statistical authorities over the years. Furthermore, the authors propose and apply a methodology for constructing a composite CPI based on available official data, linking various historical periods. The results reveal insights into Bulgaria’s historical inflation trends.

Key Findings:

• For the first time, a nearly 140-year-long time series for Bulgaria’s CPI is presented.
• Economic and political regimes have had a significant impact on price formation and inflation levels.
• The methodology can be adapted for use in other transition economies with limited historical statistical data.

Highlights from the Authors:

“Our goal is to offer a reliable historical CPI series that allows for the analysis of real incomes, inflation, and social transformations in Bulgaria over an extended period”.

“This research contributes to filling the gaps in historical macroeconomic data for peripheral and post-communist economies”.

The study underscores the importance of historical context in inflation analysis and lays a foundation for future research on Bulgaria’s long-term economic dynamics.

The full article is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14631377.2025.2470008

It can be downloaded free of charge from computers connected to the Sofia University network until June 1, 2025.