SPAIN DATA: Domestic Demand Fuels Another Strong GDP Print
Jul-29 08:32
Spain continues to cement itself as the post-covid Eurozone growth engine, with Q2 flash GDP growing 0.7% Q/Q (vs 0.6% cons and prior). Sequential growth has been above 0.6% for the last eight quarters.
Domestic demand was solid in Q1, contributing 0.9pp. External demand was a modest drag to the tune of 0.1pp.
Household consumption rose 0.8% Q/Q, after slowing a little to 0.5% in Q1. This is consistent with the solid growth in retail sales and improvement in consumer confidence seen through Q2. Meanwhile, Spain’s record low unemployment rate will also be providing a tailwind to consumption.
Gross fixed capital formation rose 1.6% Q/Q (vs 1.9% prior), while Government consumption was -0.1% Q/Q (vs -0.5% prior). Exports rose 1.1% Q/Q (vs 1.7% prior) while imports grew 1.7% Q/Q (vs 1.5% prior).
On the production side, industry grew 0.8% Q/Q, while services saw more impressive 1.2% Q/Q growth. The services PMI was in expansionary territory through Q2.
Hours worked rose 0.3% Q/Q, while real productivity per hour was 0.5% Q/Q. We wrote last week that Increased employment rates, and by extension hours worked, has been a key driver of Spain's economic outperformance post-covid. Importantly, this has also come alongside improving real productivity metrics.