VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese economy continued to outperform the eurozone in the final quarter of last year, with real GDP growth more than five times higher than the eurozone average, according to the Central Bank of Malta. Growth was equally supported by strong domestic demand and net exports, confirming the resilience of the Maltese economy.
The labor market also remained solid, with rising employment and increased participation. The number of vacancies increased further, while labor shortages remained high. Despite a slight increase in unemployment, the rate remained well below the eurozone average.
On the price front, inflation rose marginally to 2.5% in December, compared to 2.4% in September. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, decreased slightly to 2.3%. Public finances also showed signs of improvement, with the deficit lower than in the same period of the previous year. Malta’s debt-to-GDP ratio remained stable and significantly lower than the eurozone average.
