Branko Josipović, Acting Director of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, and Christina de Bruin, Director of the UNICEF Office in Serbia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia on September 10^th 2026, thus establishing the framework for improving mutual cooperation.

According to the preliminary data, operating income in non-financial business economy in the Republic of Serbia in the second quarter of 2026 increased by 9.7 % relative to the same period of the previous year, while compared to the first quarter of 2026, the increase of 11% was noted. In the Information and Communication Sector, operating income were increased by 8.3% relative to the same period of the previous year, while compared to the first quarter of 2026, the increase of 9.9% was noted.

Operating costs in non-financial business economy in the second quarter of 2026 increased by 7.8% relative to the same period of the previous year, while compared to the first quarter of 2026, the increase of 10.1 % was noted. In the Information and Communication Sector, operating costs were increased by 8.0% relative to the same period of the previous year, while compared to the first quarter of 2026, the increase of 5.7% was noted.

Total value of sale and purchase of agricultural, forestry and fishing products in the Republic of Serbia in the second quarter 2026, relative to the same period 2025, decreased by 0.2% at current prices.

Wholesale and retail trade turnover of motor vehicles and motorcycles in the Republic of Serbia in the second quarter of 2026, compared with the same quarter of previous year, increased by 10.2% at current prices.

When comparing with the same period last year, the wholesale turnover excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles trade in the second quarter 2026 in the Republic of Serbia increased by 12.6% at current prices.

Retail trade turnover excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles trade in the Republic of Sebia increased by 8.5% at current prices in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same quarter of 2025. In the first six months of 2026, when compared with the same period last year, the retail trade turnover increased by 8.9% at current prices and by 7.1% at constant prices.

The overall external trade in the Republic of Serbia for January – July 2026 amounted to:

   - USD 54172.8 million - which was an increase of 12.1% compared to the same period last year;

   - EUR 46596.2 million - which was an increase of 6.3% compared to the same period last year.

Total expenditures for research and development activities (R&D) in 2025 amounted to over RSD 94 billion RSD (94,428,928 in thousands), and their participation in GDP amounts 0,97%.

In total expenditures for R&D, the share of gross investments is 5%, while the share of current expenditures is 95%.

The industrial production in July 2026 decreased by 2.3% relative to July 2025.

The real GDP growth in the second quarter of 2026, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, amounted 3.8%.

According to seasonally adjusted GDP data, gross domestic product increased by 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026, compared to the previous quarter.