Page "Economy of Bulgaria" Paragraph 6

A period of large trade deficits and improper real estate investment hit Bulgaria hard during the late-2000s recession, resulting in a 5. 5 % GDP decline in that period, a rise in unemployment, and spending at least five quarters in its worst recession since the early 1980s.

However, this was not as severe compared to much of Europe.

Future prospects are tied to the country's increasingly important integration with the European Union member states.

However, the country came out of a recession in 2010, and stagnated for a short period of time.

It has been recently predicted that the economy would grow modestly by 2011.

The country is expected to join the Eurozone in 2013.