The Italian economy grew by 0,3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous three months, driven by strong export performance, the national statistics institute ISTAT announced on Friday, revising upwards a previous estimate of 0,2%.
On an annual basis, the gross domestic product of the third largest economy in the eurozone increased by 0,8%, compared to an initial estimate of 0,7% published at the end of April.
According to ISTAT, exports jumped 2,2% in the first quarter compared to the period from October to December 2025, while imports fell by 0,7%. Net foreign trade thus contributed 0,9 percentage points to quarterly growth.
Consumer spending and investment also increased, supporting economic activity. However, a sharp reduction in inventories reduced growth by 1,1 percentage points.
Italian authorities are now monitoring the economic consequences of the conflict with Iran, triggered by the US-Israeli strikes of February 28. However, the main effects of this geopolitical crisis are expected to be felt from the second quarter onward.
Italy is trying to maintain a recovery momentum in an international context marked by geopolitical tensions and uncertainties about world trade.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.