Italy’s economy experienced a modest growth of 0.2% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, according to official data. On a year-on-year basis, the country’s GDP increased by 1.0%, aligning with earlier projections.
The growth during this period was largely driven by improvements in household and nonprofit consumption, as well as a rise in gross fixed investment, both of which increased by 0.2%. However, the dynamic between imports and exports presented a mixed picture; imports surged by 1.5%, while exports rose by 1.0%, resulting in a negative impact from net foreign demand.
On the production front, the services sector played a pivotal role, expanding by 0.4% and thus mitigating contractions seen in other areas. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors saw a slight decline of 0.1%, while the industrial sector faced a more significant drop of 0.6%.
Despite these sectoral variations, domestic demand was a positive force for the overall economic growth, counterbalancing the adverse effects of external trade conditions. Additionally, the carry-over effect for Italy’s GDP growth in 2026 was estimated at 0.8%, providing a foundation for future economic performance.