Catalonia grew by 5.5% in 2022, the same as the Spanish average

The Catalan economy grew by 5.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
03 February 2023 Friday 13:39
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Catalonia grew by 5.5% in 2022, the same as the Spanish average

The Catalan economy grew by 5.5% in 2022, the same as the Spanish average, according to data published this Friday by Idescat, the Catalan statistical institute. They are three tenths less than in 2021, with the push of the exit from the pandemic crisis.

"The data reflects a second consecutive year of recovery, a fact that allows us to approximate the levels of activity prior to the crisis derived from the pandemic," Idescat states in its note. In any case, in volume it is still 1.5% below the levels of 2019. At the end of the year it comes with a slowdown, from 5% growth in the third quarter to 3.3% in the fourth.

It is pointed out that growth occurs in a complicated international context "throughout the year" due to the increase in energy costs, continued inflation or the rise in interest rates. The main driver was services, which rose 8%. Both for tourism and for the recovery of full activity in professional services, telecommunications, computing or artistic activities. The other positive note was construction (4.7%).

On the other hand, industry contracted by 2.5%, due to the drop in car manufacturing, a worsening in metal and clothing, and a stabilization in food and chemicals. "The pharmaceutical industry and machinery manufacturing stand out for their dynamism", it is detailed in any case.

Agriculture, for its part, suffered a notable reduction of 14%.

According to the macroeconomic table that is attached to the 2023 budget, the Generalitat expects growth to slow down to 1.7% in 2023. The central forecast with which it works is that of a "cooling off of activity but not a recession", was exposed in the table.