The average household's income rose by an average of 75.26 leva in June 2008, compared to June 2007. The hike per person comes to 37.05 leva. Costs, however, are up by 83.11 leva, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) said in a report today.

This means that the average income of a family of 2.5 people in June stood at 689.35 leva, or 277.85 leva per person, compared to 614.09 leva and 243.11 leva per person a year ago.

Wages and salaries continue to be the most important source of income for Bulgarians – 53.6% or 376.95 leva, pensions rank second with 23% or 158.72 leva. The share of sales is decreasing from 5% to 3.2%.

Food and beverages continue to be the largest expenditure in the family budget - 246.53 leva, 36%. Spending on tobacco and alcohol is slightly down -0.2% to 30.10 leva per person.

Utilities are the second highest expenditure. Rent, water, electricity and gas cost Bulgarians an average of 80.04 leva, 0.8% up from June last year.

Spending on transport has risen significantly, to 37.8 leva, or 8% of the total budget, against 6.8% a year ago.

Costs on furniture and house maintenance are down to 3.7%, compared with 4.3% last year.

Taxes account for 3.1% of the average household budget in Bulgaria, slightly up from 2.9% in June 2007.

The NSI also records decreasing consumption of bread (-0.2 kg to 8.9 kg per household), of fresh and frozen vegetables (7.6 kg), yogurt (2.5 kg). Bulgarians consumed more fresh and frozen fruits (2.6 kg) and meat (2.1 kg).