Italian regions Rimini and Lombardy report mixed economic performance in early 2026

The Chamber of Commerce of Romagna’s economic observatory says Rimini province’s economy remained resilient in the first half of 2026, with tourism arrivals rising and a modest increase in firms and innovative start‑ups. However, manufacturing output, construction turnover, trade and exports fell, and the province’s added‑value growth of about +0.3% lagged both the regional (+0.6%) and national (+0.5%) averages. Chamber president Carlo Battistini noted that “our economy continues to hold” despite uneven sectoral trends.

In Lombardy, export sales reached €40.9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, matching the previous year’s level, according to the Comark TES division of Tinexta Innovation Hub. Analysts highlighted the need for greater digitalisation and streamlined regulation to sustain competitiveness, noting a 1.3% rise in loan volumes that mainly benefited the Milan area while smaller firms faced credit constraints and bureaucratic burdens.