The numbers are as they are. It's just that not everyone can read them. This was stated in the studio of “Crossroads” by the Chairman of the National Statistical Institute, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Atanas Atanasov. His comment is in connection with the accusations by “Vazrazhdane” that the NSI is hiding the true data on inflation in our country. In the words of the associate professor “they simply want to create problems on Bulgaria's path to the eurozone”.
“Inflation in all countries is calculated by national statistics. No one else can do it. Price increases can be measured, but every country has one institution that calculates inflation. For 145 years now, for Bulgaria, this has been the NSI,” the chairman of the Institute emphasized.
Assoc. Prof. Atanasov is categorical that the data cannot be manipulated for several reasons. “The main one is that every single number is verified by Eurostat. Only then are the data published,” he pointed out.
The head of the National Statistics Office assured that it is not under pressure to present lower than real inflation so that our country can enter the eurozone sooner. “I have not spoken to a single politician in recent months,” the associate professor admitted. “In recent months, the NSI has been under attack by only one political party, and that is “Vazrazhdane.” We receive emails with threats to the life and health of employees and their families”, admitted Assoc. Prof. Atanasov. The institution has written open letters to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Interior and the head of the National Agency for National Statistics. “An entire institution cannot work under stress because someone doesn't like the numbers”, the chairman of the NSI is categorical.
“Inflation is the rate of price growth. The fact that it has decreased, but still remains positive, does not mean that prices have decreased. It means that they are increasing, but more slowly”, the expert emphasized. The NSI expects inflation to increase in January. However, whether this will move us away from entering the eurozone depends not only on domestic inflation, but also on that in other countries, the director of the National Statistics emphasized.