After the negative inflation levels registered in March, the data in April shows 0.5% inflation. Hence, the total inflation level for the first four months of 2007 amounts up to 2.3%. On annual bases, the inflation in April is 4.2%.

Despite that, the expectations of the management of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) are for a decrease in the annual inflation, reaching levels of 3.7%. In comparison, the increase in the index of consumer prices in 2006 was 6.6%.

According to the convergence programme for Bulgaria, its inflation is expected to reach 3%, by the end of next year, and 2.9% by the end of 2009. Having that complete, the country will overcome one of the obstacles towards its road to joining the European Monetary Union, and the introduction of the common European currency.

In order for the country to fully fulfil the inflation criteria, Bulgaria has to reach annual inflation levels no more than 1.5 percentage points higher than the 3 best-performing member states of the EU (based on inflation).