Bankitalia: above average growth in Lazio. Pnrr works completed or started at 52%
Lazio's economy grows thanks to exports and investments, while the construction sector weakens
The economy in Lazio continued to grow at a moderate pace in the first half of 2025, in an international macroeconomic context characterised by a tightening of trade policies and geopolitical tensions. The Bank of Italy's Quarterly Indicator of the Regional Economy (ITER) reports a growth in output of 0.7% over the same period last year, a figure slightly above the national average. Activity levels in the region were sustained by foreign demand and investment expenditure, both public and private; consumption increased only slightly. This is the picture that emerges from the customary six-monthly November report of the Bank of Italy's Rome office, illustrated by Antonella Magliocco, director of the Rome office, Marco Gallo, head of the territorial economic analysis and research division, and Massimiliano Bolis, deputy head of the same division
Activity in industry benefited from an increase in exports
In industry in the narrow sense, the Bank of Italy's survey of turnover trends was positive. Sales were driven by exports, which grew at a rate (17.4 per cent) above the national average (2.1). In particular, sales to the United States of pharmaceutical products increased, benefiting from advance purchases due to fears of new tariff measures. The aerospace industry also increased significantly, while the difficulties in the automotive industry continued.
The construction sector has weakened
In construction, activity recorded a shrinkage, although it remained at historically high levels. Hours worked decreased (-3.7 per cent). Demand for private works declined, conditioned by the reshaping of tax incentives; on the other hand, growth in public works continued, supported by the works of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRP) and the Jubilee of the Catholic Church. In the first half of the year, investment spending in public works by territorial entities grew by 13 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
The impact of the Jubilee
The tertiary sector was supported by business services; it also benefited from the tourist flows linked to the Jubilee. In the services sector, the regional picture was still positive. The Bank of Italy survey showed an increase in sales for a large part of the enterprises. Economic activity was more dynamic for business services and transport, storage and communication services. Trade, on the other hand, suffered from the modest dynamics of consumption. In the tourism sector, the Jubilee-related events had a positive impact on the attendance and expenditure of foreign tourists, which grew by 38.9 and 25.7 per cent respectively in the first half of the year. However, day-to-day spending was moderate and down by about 10 per cent. In the hotel sector, admissions increased by a much smaller amount (2.5 per cent in the first eight months of the year).
Pnrr, construction sites started or completed 52%
As of July 2025, public works tenders for a total value of EUR 3.2 billion had been launched in Lazio. The award rate was 84 per cent of the total value tendered, a rate in line with the rest of the country. The progress of construction sites showed that the works completed or started accounted for 52 per cent of the total value of the tenders awarded, a rate slightly lower than the overall figure for the country.
