Northeast and South lead the country's economic growth, according to a BNB study

The Northeast economy recorded a growth of 2.5% in the period from August 2025 to July 2026, leading alongside the South in regional performance across the country. This result exceeds the national average of 1.5%, and reinforces the dynamism of the Northeast economy, according to the analysis of the Technical Office for Economic Studies of the Northeast (Etene) of the Banco do Nordeste (BNB).

In comparison between regions of the country, the Northeast achieved the highest growth rate, tied with the South, both at 2.5%. This performance exceeds by one percentage point the results of Brazil and the North, which recorded a growth of 1.5%. The Southeast advanced to 1.7%, while the Midwest slowed down more intensely throughout the year.

Pernambuco stood out as the best performance in the region among the states analyzed, with an expansion of 3.6%, more than double the rate observed for Brazil. Rio Grande do Norte (2.1%), Ceará (1.7%), Maranhão (1.6%) and Bahia (1.4%) are also noteworthy, with the latter being the only one with a performance slightly below the national average.

For the superintendent of the BNB in Pernambuco, Hugo Luiz de Queiroz, credit is being used as an important tool to maintain the dynamism of the economy in the state. "In 2025 alone, the Banco do Nordeste financed R$ 7.8 billion in the state, which represented almost 25% growth compared to the previous year. From January to July 2026, it was R$ 4.3 billion. These are resources that expand businesses, stimulate new investments, generate employment and support consumption, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits the entire population," he says.

The study is based on the Banco Central's Economic Activity Index (IBC-Br). According to the researcher Biagio de Oliveira Mendes Junior, who is responsible for the study, the indicator is monitored by the market because it provides a more timely reading of the Brazilian economic activity.

According to Biagio Mendes Junior, Rio Grande do Norte presented the most consistent economic recovery trajectory, while Ceará recorded gradual growth, stabilizing above the Brazilian average.

Despite regional leadership, data indicates a gradual slowdown in the northeastern growth rate since April 2026, when the annual rate reached 3%. In July, the indicator fell to 2.5%. According to the analysis, part of this movement is associated with the performance of the industry and services in some states in the region.

Sectors in Brazil

In the national context, agro-livestock was the sector with the largest growth in the accumulated 12 months until July 2026, with an expansion of 2.3%. Next are services, with 1.9%, and industry, with 0.7%. The study highlights that the slowdown observed in the Brazilian economy throughout 2026 was mainly concentrated in agro-livestock, while services continued as the main support for the country's economic activity.