In March 2018 the Industrial Production Index in Bulgaria saw 1.7% increase year on year, preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute shows. The March statistics shows that construction shrank by 1.5% as compared to March 2017, although the sector saw significant improvement in the past two years. Meanwhile, consumer confidence rose in April and the expectations of the people about the development of the Bulgarian economy and their own financial position in the coming 12 months are optimistic. The confidence index increased with 1.8 basis points as compared to January 2018. The index increased with 1.0 basis point in the Bulgarian cities and with 4.1 basis points in the Bulgarian villages.