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.
Portugal logged 3.3 million guests and 8.0 million overnight stays in May, both May records, INE data show. But growth eased to 2.8%, and resident stays rose 7.6% against just 1.1% for foreign visitors — Portuguese travellers are now driving the sector.
The average Portuguese home sold for a record €262,839 in Q1 2026, INE data show, as the house-price index rose 17.8%. Yet sales fell 8.7% and non-resident purchases dropped 15.6% — prices driven by scarcity, not a buying frenzy. Greater Lisbon averaged €422,214.
Thursday, 9 July 2026. Lisbon steadied after Wednesday's steep drop, with the PSI edging up about 0.4% as retailer Sonae and grocer Jerónimo Martins led a partial rebound and
Ibersol has cut its share capital to €40 million from €40.9 million, cancelling 899,126 treasury shares on 8 July to 'liberate excess capital'. The operator of KFC, Pizza Hut and Burger King franchises in Portugal is midway through a buyback running to late 2026.
Industrial turnover rose 7% year-on-year in May, INE data show — down from April's 9.4%, with turnover falling 0.8% on the month. Energy did most of the work; consumer goods were near flat, industrial employment slipped 0.7% and export growth decelerated sharply.
The Bank of Portugal has hired Eternamix Consulting to audit more than 1,000 IT contracts signed over the past 11 years, for €108,000 plus VAT and a three-month deadline. The review follows last year's Judicial Police searches into the central bank's technology contracting.
Lisbon has set two conditions on the proposed Galp–Moeve merger: keep a working refinery at Sines and give Portugal supply priority in an energy crisis. Moeve, the former Cepsa, is owned by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala and US fund Carlyle. Sines meets about 90% of Portugal's fuel demand, raising sovereignty
