Gross domestic product
The year-on-year growth in gross domestic product in the second quarter of 2026 was higher than that recorded in the previous quarter and a year earlier (both seasonally unadjusted and seasonally adjusted).
Population
According to preliminary estimates, Poland’s population at the end of September 2025 was lower than at the end of both September and December of 2025. During the first three quarters of 2026, fewer children were born than a year before, while the number of deaths rose slightly. With deaths outnumbering births, the natural increase remained negative. As in the previous year, the net international migration for permanent residence is estimated to have been positive.
Labour market
Average employment in the enterprise sector was lower than a year ago, and the scale of the decrease was similar to that observed in the same period last year. Fewer people were added to the unemployment register compared to January–September 2025, while the number of people removed from the register increased slightly. The registered unemployment rate at the end of September 2026 remained at the same level as in the previous month and was higher than a year ago.
AVERAGE PAID EMPLOYMENT
IN ENTERPRISE SECTOR1
(IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS)
REGISTERED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
(AS OF THE END OF PERIOD)
Labour market – Labour Force Survey (LFS)
According to the preliminary results of the Labour Force Survey, in the second quarter of 2026 the number of employed persons and the employment rate were slightly higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The number of unemployed persons and the unemployment rate also increased compared with those recorded a year earlier.
Labour market – Labour demand
According to the results of the Labour Demand Survey in the second quarter of 2026, slightly more new jobs were created than a year earlier. At the same time, the number of jobs liquidated was lower.
Average monthly gross wages and salaries in the enterprise sector
Both nominal and real average gross wages in the enterprise sector increased year-on-year, but to a lesser extent than in the January–September period of 2025. In September 2026, the growth of nominal wages was slightly higher than in the previous month. However, the pace of growth in their purchasing power slowed down (due to rising inflation) and was the weakest in three years.
NOMINAL
Average monthly gross retirement and other pensions
The year-on-year growth of average nominal gross retirement and other pensions from the non-agricultural social security system was lower than in the January–September period of 2025, but higher than that of wages in the enterprise sector. The purchasing power of these benefits increased to a similar extent as in the same period of last year. Nominal benefits for individual farmers slightly exceeded the level recorded a year earlier, but their purchasing power decreased.
Consumer prices2
The annual increase in consumer prices during the period of the first three quarters of 2026 was lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year. However, in individual months, the price dynamics accelerated temporarily (particularly from July 2026), which was influenced by the situation in the Middle East and by growth in fuel prices. As a result, in September 2026, the increase in consumer prices exceeded the upper limit of the deviation from the inflation target, for the first time since June 2025. The year-on-year growth in transport-related prices was significantly higher than in previous months (particularly in fuels for personal transport equipment). The growth rate of prices related to dwellings also accelerated. The fall in food prices continued, although it was less pronounced than in August 2026.
PRICES OF CONSUMER GOODS AND SERVICES
Prices3 of sold production of industry
and construction and assembly production
The situation in the Middle East has also affected producer price dynamics. In industry, producer prices were above the previous year’s levels, since March 2026 (following more than two years of decline). In the construction, since the beginning of the year, the rise in prices was higher than in the previous year. Growth in prices has accelerated significantly in recent months – in September 2026 the increase in producer prices exceeded 6%.
PRICES OF SOLD PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRY
Sold production of industry4
Sold production of industry increased in annual terms to a greater extent than in the first three quarters of 2025. The growth was recorded in all sections of industry – it was the highest in mining and quarrying (after a decline in the previous year) and the lowest in manufacturing. Among the main industrial groupings, sales increased year-on-year in the production of capital goods, intermediate goods and non-durable consumer goods, while decreased in the production of durable consumer goods and energy-related goods.
SEASONALLY UNADJUSTED
Construction and assembly production5
The year-on-year decline in construction and assembly production was greater than that observed in January–September 2025. This was influenced, among others, by exceptionally unfavourable weather conditions at the beginning of the year and irregularities in settlements made by enterprises. Production in all divisions of construction was lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year, with the sharpest decline observed in enterprises specialising in construction of buildings. Sales of restoration works were significantly lower, while sales of investment works increased.
SEASONALLY UNADJUSTED
Housing construction6
More dwellings were completed than a year before (when slightly decrease was observed). The increase in the number of dwellings for which permits have been granted7 was recorded, as well as in the number of those in which construction has begun.
DWELLINGS COMPLETED
DWELLINGS FOR WHICH PERMITS
HAVE BEEN GRANTED7
DWELLINGS IN WHICH CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN
Retail sales
Retail sales rose year-on-year to a lesser extent than in the January–September period of 2025. In most groups, sales were higher than a year earlier, including, among others, solid, liquid and gaseous fuels (although a significant fall in sales was recorded in this group in September 2026). However, sales were lower than in the first three quarters of 2025, among others, in the group of the food, beverages and tobacco products, which accounts for the largest share of total sales.
seasonally unadjusted
Transport8
Following a decline recorded a year earlier, both road and railway transport of goods recorded an increase in cargo volumes. Passengers transport also increased, but to a lesser extent than in the January–September period of 2025.
OF GOODS by railway
Agriculture9
Prices of most agricultural products at procurement and marketplaces were lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The exception were procurement prices of cattle for slaughter, which were higher than a year earlier.
PROCUREMENT PRICES OF WHEAT
PROCUREMENT PRICES
OF PIGS FOR SLAUGHTER
Foreign trade10
The growth in foreign trade in goods (expressed in PLN) was higher than in January–August 2025. The exchange increased with most groups of countries; only imports from Central and Eastern European countries fell significantly. The exchange closed with a deeper negative balance than a year ago, driven by a widening of the negative balance with developing countries. The terms of trade index for the period January–July 2026 was more unfavourable than a year earlier.
EXPORTS
(in PLN)
Financial results of non-financial enterprises
Surveyed enterprises recorded better financial results than in the first half of 2025, and their economic and financial ratios also improved. Revenues from export sales increased. The basic indicators for exporters were more favourable than a year earlier and better than those recorded for all surveyed enterprises.
NET FINANCIAL RESULT
GROSS TURNOVER
PROFITABILITY INDICATOR
NET TURNOVER
PROFITABILITY INDICATOR
Investment outlays of non-financial enterprises
Investment outlays of the surveyed non-financial enterprises grew, after a decline a year before. Expenditure on buildings and structures, as well as on purchases, increased. Entities with foreign capital showed greater investment activity than a year earlier. The number and estimated value of new investments were lower than in the first half of 2025.
INVESTMENT OUTLAYS
(AT CONSTANT PRICES)
Business tendency
In manufacturing and retail trade, business tendency assessments are unfavourable, similar to those formulated in September 2026. Sentiments in construction are more pessimistic than a month earlier. In transportation and storage, the business tendency is assessed favourably, similarly as a month earlier.
Entrepreneurs from the presented activities indicate that uncertainty of the economic environment is more hindering for current activity than it did a month before. Less significant was, mainly, the impact of labour shortages in manufacturing and excessive competition from both domestic and foreign firms in the transportation and storage.
Similarly to July 2026 (i.e. when the previous edition of the survey including price tendencies was conducted) entrepreneurs in the next three months expect mostly indicate that the rate of growth in prices of services, materials, and raw materials used in their activity will slow down. At the same time, the percentage of respondents who predict an acceleration in price growth clearly grew, with the decrease of those expecting prices would stabilize. According to entrepreneurs, the greatest influence on the increase in their firms’ operating costs have energy and fuel prices, which are indicated more frequently than in July 2026. Labour costs and the prices of components and services, among others, are listed next.
The majority of enterprises (82–93%) in the presented areas of the economy still indicate that they do not experience negative effects of the war in Ukraine or assess them as having minor significance for their activity. However, the percentage of businesses giving this response is generally lower than it was three months earlier. Decreased the percentage of those reporting the lack of negative impact arising from the war in Ukraine – the most in transportation and storage and in manufacturing.
Consumer tendency
Consumers’ sentiments regarding both current and future individual consumption are more unfavourable than in September 2026. Respondents’ views have deteriorated regarding, among others, the country’s current and future economic situation. The majority of respondents indicate that in the coming months the rate of rise in consumer prices will remain similar as before.
Consumers’ concerns regarding the current situation in Ukraine do not differ significantly from those reported a month earlier. Slightly fewer respondents than in September 2026 believe that the conflict in Ukraine poses a serious threat to Poland’s sovereignty and independence (30% compared with 31%). Slightly more respondents, however, perceive this situation as a significant threat to the Polish economy (28% compared with 27%). As in September 2026, 9% of respondents assess that the conflict may pose a great threat to their personal financial situation. Still, 3% of respondents remain strongly concerned about losing their jobs or having to cease business operations due to the situation in Ukraine, while 7% indicate that such a situation could arise (compared with 8% a month before).
CURRENT CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE INDICATOR
Sytuacja społeczno-gospodarcza kraju
Departament Analiz i Udostępniania Informacji
e-mail:
ssgk@stat.gov.pl