Italian regional economic data shows growth in Abruzzo and export declines in Friuli Venezia Giulia

Recent Istat data for the second quarter of 2026 reveals divergent economic trends across Italian regions.

In Abruzzo, the economy shows significant strength. Employment has risen by 4.9 percent, adding 26,000 jobs compared to the same period last year. The regional unemployment rate has dropped to 5.2 percent, which is below the national average for the first time in 30 years. Additionally, the employment rate in Abruzzo reached 64.8 percent, surpassing the national average of 63.4 percent.

Conversely, Friuli Venezia Giulia experienced a 1 billion euro decline in exports during the first half of 2026. This decrease, representing a 9.6 percent drop, is primarily attributed to volatility in the shipbuilding sector, particularly in the province of Trieste. While shipbuilding exports fell from 2.3 billion euros to 1.1 billion euros, the regional export trend would have been positive by 2.2 percent if this specific sector were excluded.