Portugal: Activity gains traction in Q1
According to a preliminary estimate, GDP growth improved to 2.6% on a seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis in the first quarter, from 1.7% in the fourth quarter of last year.
Private consumption sped up to 2.2%, which marked the best reading since Q2 2021 (Q4 2021: +1.1% s.a. qoq). Public consumption bounced back, growing 1.1% in Q1 (Q4 2021: -0.7% s.a. qoq). Meanwhile, fixed investment growth waned to 3.3% in Q1, from the 4.4% recorded in the prior quarter.
Exports of goods and services growth fell to 1.7% in Q1, marking the worst result since Q2 2021 (Q4 2021: +9.1% s.a. qoq). In addition, imports of goods and services growth moderated to 0.7% in Q1 (Q4 2021: +7.7% s.a. qoq), marking the worst reading since Q2 2021.
On an annual basis, economic growth improved to 11.9% in Q1, from the previous quarter’s 5.9% increase. Q1’s reading marked the best result since Q2 2021.