The European Union spent an estimated €403.1 billion on research and development in 2024, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 2023 (€389.2 billion), according to Eurostat, the European statistical office. Compared to 2014, R&D spending increased by 62.2 percent, starting from €248.6 billion, showing steady growth over the past decade. R&D spending as a share of GDP (the so-called R&D intensity) remained stable at 2.2 percent, similar to previous years. Between 2014 and 2024, this indicator in the EU increased by 0.1 percentage points (pp). Between 2014 and 2024, R&D intensity increased in 19 EU countries, with the largest increases recorded in Belgium (1.0 pp), Greece (0.7 pp) and Estonia and Croatia (0.6 pp each). In 2024, six EU countries recorded an R&D intensity equal to or higher than 3%, the target set by the European Council. The highest intensities were recorded in Sweden (3.6%), Belgium (3.4%), Austria (3.3%) and Finland (3.2%), followed by Germany (3.1%) and Denmark (3.0%). In contrast, seven EU countries reported R&D intensity below or equal to 1 percent: Romania and Malta (0.5 percent each), Cyprus (0.7 percent), Bulgaria (0.8 percent), Latvia (0.9 percent), as well as Slovakia and Luxembourg (1.0 percent). The business sector continues to generate the largest share of R&D expenditure in 2024. It accounts for 66.5 percent of EU R&D expenditure, amounting to €268.1 billion. It is followed by the higher education sector (€86.1 billion or 21.4 percent), the public sector (€43.5 billion or 10.8 percent) and the private non-profit sector (€5.4 billion or 1.3 percent).

Nearly 60% of the fresh pork offered on the market in Bulgaria is domestically produced, but it remains extremely insufficient to meet the needs of consumers and the processing industry, said Dr. Dilyana Popova - Executive Director of the Association of Meat Processors in Bulgaria (AMB). Bulgarian meat production fails to meet market demand in several key sectors. The lack of sufficient raw material necessitates imports from other countries. Domestic pork production covers nearly 60% of fresh meat consumption, but is insufficient for use in processed products. Bulgaria satisfies only 20% of market demand with its own beef production. The share of Bulgarian chicken production is between 60% and 70%. Regarding rabbit meat, our country is not among the major consumers, but there are several farms with slaughterhouses that produce and process such meat. Years ago, Bulgaria was a major exporter of lamb, mainly to Arab countries, but this trend is long gone. As for rabbit meat, our country is not among the major consumers, but there are several farms with slaughterhouses that produce and process such meat.

As of September 30, 2025, 23 banks operate in the banking sector of Bulgaria, 6 of which are branches of foreign credit institutions. The acquisition of 100% of the capital of TBI Bank EAD from 4finance Holding S.A. by the private equity fund Advent International is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Total assets of the banking system as of September 30, 2025 amounted to BGN 210.1 billion, recording a growth of 4.05% compared to June 30, 2025. The share of the five largest banks based on total assets in the banking system amounted to 76.80% as of September 30, 2025. United Bulgarian Bank AD retains the leading position with assets of BGN 41.8 billion or 19.92% market share, marking a growth of 4.27% in assets compared to June 30, 2025. DSK Bank AD retains second position with 18.76% market share and growth in assets of 4.16% compared to the end of the first half of 2025. UniCredit Bulbank AD is in third position with a market share of 18.43% and growth in assets of 4.21% compared to June 30, 2025. The banks' net assets as of September 30, 2025 amounted to BGN 25.2 billion, marking a growth of 2.49% compared to June 30, 2025. In the leading position in this indicator is DSK Bank AD, as of September 30, 2025 its net assets recorded a growth of 4.63% compared to June 30, 2025. UniCredit Bulbank AD registered a growth of 4.18% in net assets as of September 30, 2025 and remains in second place in this indicator. United Bulgarian Bank AD is in third position in net assets as of September 30, 2025, reporting a decrease of 2.46% compared to June 30, 2025. The net profit of the banking system recorded a growth of 3.92%, reaching BGN 2.83 billion for the first nine months of 2025 compared to BGN 2.72 billion for the same period in 2024. UniCredit Bulbank AD occupies the leading position with a profit of BGN 760 million or a 26.87% share of the sector's profits for the first nine months of 2025, reporting a significant growth in its profit of 18.59% compared to the same period in 2024. DSK Bank AD is in second position in terms of profit share in the sector, namely 26.20%, reporting a growth of 1.46% and registering a profit of BGN 741 million for the first nine months of 2025 compared to BGN 730 million for the first nine months of 2024. United Bulgarian Bank AD registered a 5.27% increase in its profit compared to the same period in 2024, reaching BGN 379 million for the nine months of 2025 and remaining in third position with a 13.42% share in the sector's profits. Net income from fees and commissions (calculated on the basis of Fee and commission income - Fee and commission expenses) for the sector as of September 30, 2025 amounted to BGN 1.30 billion, recording a growth of 9.53% compared to BGN 1.19 billion as of September 30, 2024. DSK Bank AD retains first position with a growth of 11.57%, reporting net income from fees and commissions worth BGN 295 million for the nine months of 2025. UniCredit Bulbank AD occupies the second position with net income from fees and commissions of BGN 257 million, representing 19.69% of total income in the sector and an 11.28% growth compared to the same period last year. United Bulgarian Bank AD remains in third position in terms of net income from fees and commissions for the first nine months of 2025 with income of BGN 227 million, recording an increase of 6.89% compared to the same period last year.

The first three catamarans of the future ten that will be built in Burgas are already a fact. The production is carried out by the Bering Yachts company in the southern industrial zone of the city, where the keels of the BC60 models – 05, 07 and 08 were officially laid. According to the manufacturing company, 20 million euros will be the direct investment in the land, in the workshops, in the organization of production in the southern industrial zone of Burgas, announced the mayor of Burgas Dimitar Nikolov. The project will open at least 200 permanent jobs, and the plans also include the production of lower-budget fishing vessels up to 15 meters, equipped with economical diesel engines. Bering Yachts, which in 2022 chose Burgas as its European center, has already completed the first catamaran of the BC60 series. The new vessels are of the same class – 20-meter family yachts with an aluminum hull, hybrid engines and 60 gross register tons. The company plans to implement a full production cycle in Burgas – from aluminum hull construction and superstructures to assembly, final finishing works and interior. zonaburgas.bg

Kaufland Bulgaria is expanding its team in the capital by 90 employees. The new jobs are related to the opening of the chain's newest hypermarket in the capital's Oborishte district, in the modern Teatralna Park Residence complex. Thus, the number of employees of the retailer in Sofia will reach nearly 2,300 people, and in the whole country - 8,000.

A private bailiff has announced for sale one of the large farm properties in Hisarya municipality. This is a plot of land of over 24 acres with seven massive buildings, located in the southeastern part of the village of Staro Zhelezare. In April this year, a large duck farm of the indebted company "MIZ", which works in the field of animal husbandry and which again falls under the blows of receivables, was also sold off in parts. In addition to all the buildings, in the southeastern part of the terrain there is also a transformer station with an unclear status, with an approximate built-up area of ​​​​about 55 sq.m. The starting price of the public sale is 620,874 leva, which represents exactly 80% of the assessment, according to the law. The price is formed from 597,600 leva - starting price excluding VAT, 23,274.06 leva - VAT charged on 19,909.87 sq.m. of the area. Part of the land (4235.13 sq.m.), which is "under buildings" and old buildings, falls under the hypothesis of exempt supplies and VAT is not charged for it. The property is being sold within the framework of an enforcement case initiated against the debtor - the company MIZ OOD, and there are several creditors on it. "MIZ" OOD owes the revenue agency 176,790 leva. The property is under enforcement and will be offered for public sale from December 12, 2025 to January 12, 2026. The plot of land that falls into the hands of a private enforcement agent has a total area of ​​24,145 sq.m., designated "agricultural land - farmyard". There are several massive buildings on it, built at different stages. The Brezov company "MIZ" is owned by Ivan and Zornitsa Yovchevi, who each share 50% of the company. The company operates in the livestock sector, dealing with the production and breeding of poultry. Traffic News

The American company Keller Williams (KW) is entering the Bulgarian real estate market as part of its expansion in Southeastern Europe. Based in Texas, it is the largest real estate franchise company in the world by number of brokers - 190,000, working in over 1,000 centers. The first Keller Williams center will be opened in Sofia and will be led by the owner and managing director of the local real estate agency First Estates Pascal Duffy. He has been working in the real estate market in our country for more than 20 years, starting a business in Varna, and in 2014 he founded First Estates in Sofia.

Around 3.4 billion tonnes of cargo (gross weight) were handled by seaports in the European Union in 2024. The volume is equal to that recorded in 2023, but remains below the highest value for the period 2014-2024 – 3.6 billion tonnes in 2019, according to Eurostat data. Rotterdam in the Netherlands retains its position as the largest port in the EU, handling 397 million tonnes of cargo in 2024. It is followed by Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium with 244 million tonnes and Hamburg in Germany with 97 million tonnes. Among the ten leading EU ports, four report growth compared to the previous year. The largest increases were observed in Valencia (3.6 per cent) and Algeciras (2.6 per cent) in Spain. The most significant declines were recorded in Constanta, Romania (14.3 percent), and Gdansk, Poland (11.0 percent). The largest share of processed goods in 2024 is occupied by coal and lignite, crude oil and natural gas – 19 percent of all cargoes. Coke and petroleum products follow with 16.5 percent. Iron ores and other ores account for 7.4 percent, and chemicals, rubber, plastics and nuclear fuel – 7.2 percent. Products from agriculture, forestry and fishing make up 6.3 percent, while food products, beverages and tobacco have a share of 4.9 percent.

President Donald Trump has announced a relaxation of fuel economy and vehicle emissions regulations that were tightened by his predecessor, saying it would lead to lower vehicle prices, Agence France-Presse reports. This refers to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. The regulations were first introduced in 1975 and strengthened by the previous US president. During his first term, Donald Trump rolled back restrictions imposed by the Obama administration, and now, once back in power, he has decided to do the same with the drastic restrictions introduced by Joe Biden. The CAFE system requires vehicles to achieve the best possible efficiency in terms of fuel consumption per kilometer. The Biden administration has mandated an 8% improvement for 2024 and 2025 models and a 10% improvement for 2026 models, with the goal of getting more than 50 miles per gallon by 2031. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimated in June that these goals would be unattainable for internal combustion engine vehicles and would therefore force a shift to electric vehicles.

China's years-long housing crisis is entering a new phase. The country's housing slump is entering its fifth straight year, and oversupply is weighing on housing prices, CNBC reported. Sales at China's top 100 construction companies fell 36% in November from a year earlier, according to the latest data from China Real Estate Information Corp. Secondary home prices in 100 Chinese cities surveyed by a new survey fell 7.95% in November, according to data from China Index Academy, a research firm. The survey underscores the deepening price declines amid a large number of listings and weak homebuyer confidence. According to Morgan Stanley, China may resort to mortgage subsidies to revive its housing market, with the Bank of China estimating it could start setting aside about $57 billion a year to restore eroded consumer confidence, Bloomberg reported. Without new government support, the housing market slowdown may not bottom out until 2027 or even beyond, analysts and industry experts warn. According to a Wall Street analysis, a one-percentage-point cut in mortgage costs in the second quarter of 2026 could boost new home sales and help ease deflationary pressures next year. At the same time, however, prices are likely to bottom out in larger cities. Then they may start to rise.