Many food prices in Bulgaria exceed the European average

Zlatka and Andrei Semovi have run a market stall in one of the markets in the capital for 10 years. They have a son in the third grade.

They claim that even a monthly income of 2,616 BGN for a family of three, which is necessary according to the latest data of CITUB trade union, is not enough to live normally.

Trade Unions: Cost of living for a family of three in Bulgaria is BGN 2,616 per month

"In order to support a student we need between BGN 4,5 and 6,000, because for the student alone we need about BGN 800 a month to pay for the canteen and daily expenses for him," says Andrei Semov.

"My wife and I do not have a social life to provide everything we need for the child," he adds.

"We are cutting down on expenses. We make restrictions- less of everything, says Zlatka Semova.

Unions say among the factors affecting the rise in income to support a family are the increase in the price of natural gas, electricity for businesses, and the surge in grain prices on world markets.

"All those who live on a wage of up to 1,000 BGN, which is about 32% of those who work or are insured, fall into the category of the working poor," said Violeta Ivanova, deputy director of the Institute for Social and Trade Union Studies.

Inflation in the country is slowing down, but prices of many foods are increasingly approaching the levels of European Union average, and for some goods even surpassing them.

"The small basket of goods and services is growing minimally in terms of percentages and in terms of BGN, but inexplicably high price values remain in it. Milk, cow's cheese, cucumbers, eggs have the highest values in euros," said Plamen Dimitrov, president of the CITUB.

The prices of oil, beans, rice and butter also rank us among the EU countries with the highest prices.

CITUB proposes that the state draw up a definition of a living wage.