Moderate growth and optimism contingent on what is and may happen in the world. The Bank of Italy's 2025 report on the Sardinian economy was presented.
The economy is growing, but at a slower pace than the previous year. The report was presented by the director of the Cagliari office, Giovanni Giuseppe Ortolani. According to estimates, the regional GDP increased by 0.7 percent, in line with the South. Inflation is rising, reaching 1.3 percent (0.9 in 2024). The economic outlook for industry is weak, with the food sector highly exposed to international tensions. Employment is slowing, growing by 1 percent, less than the previous year.
The construction sector is growing, continuing to benefit from public works, supported by NRRP resources. Tourism is also performing well, contributing above the Italian average. In 2024, its share was 13.7 percent (10.2 percent in Italy). Approximately 44% of tourism spending was made by foreign travelers, a share nearly double that of pre-pandemic years. Over the medium term, freight movements in regional ports are expected to decline sharply, declining by almost 19 percent between 2015 and 2024.
The Italian average, however, has remained largely stable in this area. High transportation costs and uncertainties related to territorial continuity are affecting business development on the island. The per capita income of Sardinians is worrying, at approximately €19,000 in 2024 (latest available data), approximately 15 percent lower than the corresponding national figure.