The national unemployment rate reached 5.5% between July and September 2026, an increase of 0.2 percentage points over the previous quarter. Youth unemployment (ages 16-24) rose to 19.9%, while the total number of unemployed people is estimated at 316,800.
This update is from Bica
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The European Central Bank's latest survey of over 12,800 businesses in the eurozone shows that 46% experienced an increase in bank loan interest rates during the third quarter of 2026, up from 42% in the previous quarter. Companies reported both higher interest rates and increased non-interest financing costs, such as fees and collateral requirements, while also noting a decline in the availability of bank loans.
Between July and September 2026, the average house price in Portugal reached 3,416 euros per square metre, an increase of 13.1% year-on-year, while the number of homes sold fell by 12.5% compared to the same period in 2025. In Lisbon, average prices hit 5,963 euros/m², and in Porto, they rose 14.7% to 4,382 euros/m².
Eurostat data shows the unemployment rate in September remained at 5.6% in Portugal, a 0.3 percentage point decrease compared to September 2025. In the Eurozone and the EU, the rate rose to 6.5% and 6.2%, respectively, compared to the same month last year, while remaining stable month-on-month.