Catalan economy grew by 3% year-over-year in Q2 of 2026

The Catalan economy grew by 3% year-over-year during the second quarter of 2026, as confirmed Monday by the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat), which announced the provisional data on July 31. 

The growth is mainly attributed to the increase in domestic demand, which has increased by 2.5%, with increases in household consumption by 3.4%, and in public administrations, by 3.2%. 

Gross capital formation decreased by 0.5%. 

The growth rate of the Catalan GDP is 0.3 percentage points higher than the growth of the Spanish economy (2.7%), and is 1.8pp above the European Union average (1.2%). 

The Catalan economy has also grown by 0.7% compared to the first quarter of this year.

In terms of demand, household consumption increased by 3.4% and public administration consumption increased by 3.2%. Investment in capital goods decreased by 3.8%, while investment in construction increased by 3.9%.

In relation to the external sector, total exports abroad grew by 1.9% year-over-year, 0.3pp more than in the previous quarter. Exports of goods and services increased by 0.4%, while consumption by non-residents grew by 10.2%.

Imports grew by 0.7%, with an increase of 0.6% in imports of goods and services and 2.9% in consumption by residents abroad.

From a supply perspective, all sectors recorded a positive growth during the second quarter. 

Services grew by 3.8%, followed by construction, with 3.7%. Industry increased by 1.3%, while the agricultural sector increased by 0.3%.

Within services, the trade, transport and hospitality sector grew the most, at 4.6%. Real estate, professional and other activities increased by 3.7%, while public administration, education, health and social services registered an increase of 2.9%.

Construction registered a growth of 3.7%, down 1.4pp then the previous quarter. For industry, the increase was 1.3%, which was 0.1pp less than in the first quarter.

The agricultural sector grew by 0.3%, down by 3.0pp compared to the rate of the first quarter.