The director general of Economy at Banco de España, David López Salido, recently hosted a working breakfast at the bank's Valladolid branch with representatives from key sectors in Castilla y León, including automotive, auxiliary industry, agrifood, and logistics. This meeting, organised in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce of Spain and the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Valladolid, aimed to discuss the current economic situation and share insights from the Bank's Business Activity Survey (EBAE).
During the event, Víctor A. Caramanzana, president of the Valladolid Chamber, emphasised the need to approach 2027 with a "balanced combination of prudence and ambition" to enhance the region's capacity for leadership and investment attraction. He highlighted the importance of addressing upcoming challenges while fostering a conducive environment for growth.
In his presentation, López Salido projected a GDP growth of 2.6% for 2026 and 2.2% for 2027, which is an increase of three and five tenths, respectively, compared to previous forecasts made in June. He also noted that inflation is expected to reach 3.9% in 2026 and 3.7% in 2027, exceeding earlier predictions by three tenths and 1.1 percentage points.
Ramón Calderón from the Chamber of Spain stressed the necessity for significant investment in technology for the automotive sector, a vital industry for Valladolid, stating that it "generates much more value than production alone." He called for efforts to attract investment during a turbulent time for the automotive industry, aiming to solidify Spain's position as the second-largest automotive producer in Europe and eighth globally.
Additionally, López Salido presented the macroeconomic projections for the Spanish economy at the University of Valladolid, discussing the main factors that will influence its evolution in the coming quarters. He noted that despite a challenging international context and rising energy costs, Spain's economy continues to show remarkable dynamism, driven by strong private consumption, job creation, and population growth.
In his lecture at the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences, he also introduced BELab, a Data Laboratory that provides researchers with access to granular databases. The day concluded with an institutional lunch attended by Carlos Fernández Carriedo, the regional Minister of Economy and Finance, along with other representatives from the regional government, trade unions, and the business and academic communities.
