ZAGREB, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Croatia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.2 percent year-on-year in the January-March period (Q1), supported mainly by household spending, according to a preliminary estimate announced Thursday by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
The Q1 data marked a slowdown from the 3.9 percent expansion recorded in the final quarter of 2025, but continued a positive trend for the 21st consecutive quarter.
During the period, household consumption, the largest component of GDP, rose by 2.6 percent on an annual basis. Government spending rose by 0.7 percent, compared with 2.8 percent growth in the previous quarter. Exports of goods and services fell by 1.6 percent, while imports of goods and services decreased by 0.3 percent.
According to the latest findings of a regular survey conducted by the European Commission, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for Croatia fell by half a point in May compared with April. In May, the ESI reached 103.3 points, its lowest level since July 2025. A negative trend was recorded across key industrial and service sectors, driven by heightened global uncertainty.
Croatia has maintained steady economic growth since emerging from the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The country joined the eurozone and the Schengen area in 2023, which the government described as moves to strengthen economic stability and investment attractiveness. ■