Il GDP of Lazio it's still three percentage points lower compared to pre-pandemic levels and, since the 2012-13 crisis, it has been growing at a slower pace than the national average: after the -8,4% caused by the health emergency (-8,9% the Italian figure), in 2021 the Region recovered 6,3%, against +6,6% for the whole country. The numbers are contained in a report on the Lazio economy produced by the Bank of Italy and presented on Monday.
The analysis also shows that, in the first quarter of 2022, the GDP of Central Italy increased by 5,7%, against +6,2% nationally. AND prospects for the year are not favourable: “Energy price increases, difficulty in procuring inputs and increased uncertainty, aggravated by the conflict in Ukraine, are undermining growth prospects – warns via Nazionale – Business expectations are of a deterioration of the economic situation".
Tourism: sector in recovery, but still far from pre-Covid levels
One of the most important sectors for the Lazio economy is obviously tourism, which in 2021 experienced a chiaroscuro trend: the flows of Italian tourists have risen by 25,1%, while those of the foreigners still fell by 29,7%. In the two-month period March-April 2022, the report states, attendances returned to grow significantly, but the levels of 2019 are still a long way off: -38% for Italian tourists and even -66% for foreigners.
Lazio: real estate and construction market in strong recovery
On the other hand, 2021 went very well for the real estate market and for the construction sector, with the home sales which grew by 35%, returning to the level of 2007. The added value (+22,5%) exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Prices also increased (+4,5%).
Energy: lagging behind on renewables, but consumption is lower than the Italian average
On the energy side, continues Bankitalia, in Lazio i consumption from renewable sources they stop at 9% of the total: just half the national average. On the other hand, "thanks to a specialization in low energy-intensive sectors (services), energy consumption in relation to GDP is lower than the Italian average (50% in Lazio; 70% in Italy)".
Employment stagnates
As regards employment, in 2021 it grew by 0,3% (against +0,8 nationally) and the level of 2019 has not yet been recovered. It went even worse in the services (-0,1%), but above all in the sector commercial, hotel and catering (-1,8%).
How many resources of the Pnrr are allocated to Lazio
In the context of investments related to the Pnrr, to the local authorities of Lazio have been assigned 3,7 billion euros. Over half of the resources will be used for school construction, new ecological buses, urban regeneration and integrated urban plans. In detail, 2,8 billion will be used for the "Inclusion and Cohesion" and "Green Revolution and Ecological Transition" missions, while the "Health" mission will receive 900 million euros more than the resources already allocated by the National Health Fund for Lazio.
