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.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva concluded a one-day official visit to Lisbon on Tuesday 21 April with a single public verdict — “ muito boa, maravilhosa ” (very good, wonderful) — and with no signed bilateral treaty to show...
A UTS-modelled Greenpeace report argues that decarbonising Portugal by 2040 — a decade ahead of the EU target — would cost €3.4bn a year, less than the €3.6bn currently trajectory, while eliminating €7bn in annual fossil imports. Nuclear and CCS are explicitly excluded.
Bank of Portugal vice-governor Clara Raposo confirms 7,400 households and firms have used the storm moratorium across nearly 100 disaster-declared municipalities, suspending €930M of credit. The scheme ends 30 April; insurers covered just €750M of a €5B loss.
INE data: Portuguese housing credit rate rose from 3.079% to 3.088% in March — the first uptick in 14 months. Euribor's Middle-East turn is the cause, and it hits new contracts hardest, where the average payment is now €700 (up 15.9% year-on-year).
Portugal's PRR has now disbursed €12.004 billion — 54% of contracted value — with companies absorbing €4.24bn, public entities €2.48bn, and local authorities €1.86bn. Execution sits at 61% with the EU's August 2026 milestone deadline four months out.
INE data show per-square-metre rents rose 5.1% year-on-year in March 2026, with Madeira leading at 6.5% and all regions positive. But sale prices diverged — Lisbon fell 0.9% to €5,783/m² and Madeira dropped 1.3% to €4,372/m². Average national rent reached €16.13/m².
Bank of Portugal: current-and-capital-account surplus for January-February totalled just €246 million, down €488 million year-on-year. Exports fell €743 million, outpacing a €535 million drop in imports. Services and secondary income also softer.
