Basilicata grows 1.4 percent as car production recovers
Basilicata's output grew an estimated 1.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, above Italy's 0.9 percent, according to the Bank of Italy. The bank anticipates weaker activity in the second half as Middle East tensions raise energy costs.
Melfi drives the rebound
Stellantis vehicle production at Melfi rose 88.4 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, but remained low by historical standards.
Regional exports increased 29.5 percent to €980 million; transport equipment sales rose 88.6 percent, while other exports fell 12.1 percent.
Oil and gas extraction declined 8.3 and 2.3 percent respectively.
Higher hydrocarbon prices nevertheless lifted nominal extraction revenue by about a fifth.
Construction benefited from National Recovery and Resilience Plan projects: payments reached €1.3 billion in June, or 53 percent of allocated resources, 8.5 percentage points below Italy's average.
Services remained weak despite tourism growth; overnight stays rose 4.6 percent in January-August.
More jobs and dearer credit
Employment rose 2.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, but unemployment reached 7.9 percent as participation increased.
Real household income grew 0.7 percent; inflation reached 3.9 percent in September.
Annual business loan growth accelerated to 3.1 percent in June from 0.5 percent in December 2025, while lending to small firms fell 2.7 percent.
Investment loan costs rose 30 basis points to 5.0 percent.
The business credit deterioration rate reached 5.7 percent, against 0.6 percent for households.
Deposits grew 3.8 percent and securities in custody 14.1 percent.
Recovery remains narrowly based
The automotive rebound contrasts with falling exports outside transport equipment and weak industrial investment.
Higher employment has supported incomes, but inflation has limited purchasing-power gains.
The Bank of Italy reports that firms anticipate weaker capital spending in 2027 as borrowing costs rise.