Real estate recorded the strongest sales growth in Albania’s services sector during the second quarter of 2026, while tourism-related activities also continued to expand at a strong pace.

According to data from the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the net sales volume index for real estate rose 38.9% compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

Meanwhile, tourism-related activities also posted significant growth. Hotels recorded a 22% increase in sales, while bars and restaurants expanded by 8.7%. Travel agencies, however, recorded a 5.4% decline in their sales index.

Transport, storage and postal services also registered strong growth, with sales increasing by 19.1%. Insurance activities rose by 8.9%, while wholesale and retail trade, together with the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, increased by 6%.

However, some service activities recorded lower sales. The sales index fell by 5.3% in legal and accounting activities, by 6% in office administration and support services, and by 0.6% in information and communication.

Employment data also showed an expansion in several sectors. The increase was particularly strong in real estate and hotels.

The employment index in real estate rose by 26.6%, while employment in hotels increased by 11.5%.

Employment also grew in transport, storage and postal services, by 5.7%, and in trade, by 5.6%. Employment in bars and restaurants increased by 2.2%.

However, some activities recorded declines in employment. The sharpest decrease came in office administration and support services, where employment fell by 12.1%. Insurance activities recorded a 3.5% decline.

INSTAT publishes short-term service statistics as indicators of economic activity across different sectors. The data provide information on sales, employment and developments in service-related activities.

/a.c/