Italy’s Economy Expands 0.2% in Q1 2026, Surpassing Expectations
Quarterly and Yearly Economic Performance Overview
Growth Figures and Market Expectations
ROME, April 30 (Reuters) - The Italian economy grew by 0.2% in the first quarter of this year from the previous three months, preliminary data showed on Thursday, a slightly stronger reading than expected.
On a year-on-year basis, gross domestic product in the euro zone's third largest economy was up 0.7% between January and March, national statistics bureau ISTAT said.
A Reuters survey of 27 economists had forecast a 0.1% rise quarter-on-quarter and a 0.6% increase year-on-year.
Government Growth Outlook and Contributing Factors
Giorgia Meloni's government last week cut its economic growth outlook to 0.6% for this year and next, reflecting surging energy prices and turmoil in the Middle East, from previous targets of 0.7% and 0.8% respectively.
In 2025 Italy grew by 0.5%.
The government forecast a 0.8% growth rate for 2028, which would mark six consecutive years of sub-1% growth.
Detailed GDP Data from ISTAT
ISTAT gave the following details on Italian GDP for the first quarter of 2026 and the previous two quarters:
Q1 2026 Q4 2025 Q3 2025
Q/Q (pct change) 0.2p 0.3 0.2
Y/Y (pct change) 0.7p 0.9r 0.7r
p=preliminary
r=revised
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Antonella Cinelli, editing by Gavin Jones)
