SOFIA (Bulgaria), May 14 (SeeNews) - The average gross monthly wage in Bulgaria has increased by an annual 12.2% to 1,208 levs ($694/618 euro) in the first quarter of 2019, data from the National Statistics Institute (NSI) showed on Wednesday.

On a quarterly comparison basis, the average gross monthly salary rose by 3.2% in the January-March period, NSI said in a statement.

The highest average wage, of 2,930 levs, was registered in the information and communication sector, followed by the finance and insurance sector with 1,994 levs.

The lowest gross salary, of 729 levs, was recorded in the sector of accommodation and food services.

In comparison with a year earlier, the average monthly wages in the public sector grew by 10.7% in the first quarter, while the private sector saw an increase of 12.6%.

(1 euro=1.95583 levs)