The Bank of Italy has published its annual report on Calabria’s economy for 2025, saying the regional economy expanded moderately but outperformed both southern Italy and the country as a whole. Based on the Bank’s ITER indicator, output rose 1.1 percent in 2025. Growth was broad-based across industry, construction and services, while the outlook for 2026 has weakened because the conflict in the Middle East has already reduced business and household confidence. Supporting activity, exports increased for a fifth consecutive year and exceeded EUR 1 billion, tourist stays rose 11.6 percent with particularly strong growth in foreign visitors, regional airports carried more than 4 million passengers for the first time, and container traffic at the Port of Gioia Tauro reached a new record of about 4.5 million TEU. Employment rose 3.8 percent, faster than in southern Italy and nationally, while real household income grew 1.0 percent and consumption improved, although wage dynamics remained weaker than in the rest of Italy and consumer credit stayed widely used. Bank lending to the nonfinancial private sector accelerated to 3.1 percent, driven by stronger credit to medium and large companies and a recovery in housing mortgages, corporate credit quality improved, and deposit growth strengthened, even as the regional bank branch network contracted further. Territorial public spending continued to expand, rising 9.4 percent and increasingly driven by capital expenditure, including projects linked to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and cohesion policy. The Region eliminated its deficit, while Provinces and municipalities remained in a weaker budget position than local authorities nationally. The report also said tourism remains an important part of Calabria’s economy but still has room to grow, with lower tourism intensity than the national average, strong concentration in coastal summer travel, a smaller foreign share of stays, and relatively low pay in hospitality.
Bank of Italy2026-06-18
Bank of Italy reports Calabria economy grew 1.1 percent in 2025 as tourism credit and public investment strengthened
The Bank of Italy’s annual report said Calabria’s economy grew 1.1 percent in 2025, outperforming southern Italy and the national average. Growth was supported by stronger tourism, exports above EUR 1 billion, construction and faster credit growth, while employment rose 3.8 percent and public capital spending accelerated. The 2026 outlook has weakened because the Middle East conflict has already hurt business and household confidence.