Portugal news in English.

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The Portugal Brief

Economy

Portugal's economy explained: GDP data, market trends, business developments, inflation, real estate, and economic policy. Analysis of how economic trends affect daily life and expat finances.

Economy

INE's Q1 2026 Quarterly LFS Bumps Unemployment to 6.1% After 38,700 Net Job Losses in Three Months — Subutilização Tips to 10.2%, Youth Joblessness Eases to 19.1%, Long-Term Unemployed Reach 35.6% as the Trabalho XXI Debate Opens at São Bento

INE's Q1 2026 quarterly LFS lifts unemployment to 6.1% — up 0.3pp on Q4 and the first interruption in a year-long descent. Economy shed 38,700 net jobs in three months, subutilização tipped to 10.2%, 588,000 inside the underutilisation perimeter, youth jobless down to 19.1%, long-term at 35.6%.

Business

Ibersol Pays €5.97 Million for a 75% Stake in Ten Galicia KFC Restaurants — Lisbon-Listed Operator Closes Gallaecia Buy-Out at a €9.6 Million Valuation, Iberian-and-Angolan Network Now 562 Units

Ibersol completed the buy-out of Gallaecia's KFC franchise in Galicia on 27 March 2026, paying €5.97 million for the remaining 75% of six companies running ten KFC restaurants. The deal values the group at €9.6 million. Lisbon-listed Ibersol now runs 562 units across Portugal, Spain and Angola.

INE

INE Confirms April Inflation at 3.3% Year-on-Year on Wednesday 13 May — Energy Climbs to 11.7% on Brent-and-Hormuz Pass-Through, Unprocessed Food at 7.4%, Core Print Lifts to 2.2% as the Headline Sits 0.3 Points Above the Eurozone Average

INE confirmed April inflation at 3.3% YoY on Wednesday — revised down 0.1 point from the flash estimate but still 0.6 points above March. Energy climbed to 11.7%, unprocessed food to 7.4%, and core inflation lifted to 2.2%. Portugal's headline now sits 0.3 points above the eurozone.