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Diari de Catalunya

Catalan Economy Shows Resilience with 2.9% Growth in First Quarter

Despite geopolitical uncertainties, retail consumption and Catalan GDP record positive data, although annual forecasts have been revised downwards.

Financial charts showing economic growth with city lights in the background.
IA

Financial charts showing economic growth with city lights in the background.

The Catalan economy has shown remarkable resilience during the first quarter of 2026, with a year-on-year GDP growth of 2.9%, surpassing the Spanish and European averages, according to Idescat data.

Retail consumption in Catalonia has recorded the best monthly growth figure of the year so far, with a 7.2% increase in April compared to the same month last year. This momentum is reflected in sectors such as catering, leisure, automotive, and food, as reported by the Comertia association.
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"The data shows the resilience of consumption despite numerous geopolitical conflicts, which cause much concern in the business world about how they may affect the economy in the future. But, for now, we have the best aggregate monthly growth figure for retail trade for the entire year 2026, with good results in catering, leisure, automotive, and food."

a Comertia spokesperson
However, the business sector expresses concern about the increase in absenteeism and the rise in management expenses, which have grown by 4.3% since the beginning of the conflict in the Levant. Logistics and transport costs, as well as supply chain costs, have increased by between 5% and 6%.
The 2.9% year-on-year growth of Catalan GDP in the first quarter contrasts with 2.7% in Spain and 1% in the European Union. In quarter-on-quarter terms, the variation in Catalonia is 0.6%, the same as in Spain and five tenths higher than in the EU. Despite these positive figures, a slight deceleration is observed compared to previous quarters, which had recorded increases of 0.8% and 0.9%.
Services continue to be the engine of the economy, with 3.7% growth, driven by hospitality, catering, IT consulting, and retail trade. Industry grew by 0.6% year-on-year, with pharmaceuticals and machinery manufacturing as prominent sectors. Construction recorded 5.4%, while agriculture increased by 1.2%.
The Generalitat and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce have revised their growth forecasts for 2026 downwards. The Department of Economy and Finance predicts 2.3% (two tenths less), while the Chamber of Commerce has set it at 2.2%. These revisions take into account geopolitical uncertainty and the impact of inflation, although a lower energy dependence and greater diversification of imports are highlighted as strengths for Catalonia.

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