The cost of living rises in February, the last month before the impact of the war in Iran

BarcelonaThe cost of living for Catalan families rose slightly in February, despite remaining within the limits set by the European Central Bank. Last month was the last before the outbreak of the war in Iran, which is expected to have an upward impact on prices due to the resulting increase in the cost of oil and natural gas. Specifically, prices in Catalonia rose by 0.5% compared to January, a figure that stands out in contrast to the previous month, when the cost of living decreased compared to December. However, compared to a year ago, the growth was 2%, the same annual rate as in January, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the evolution of prices of consumer goods and services) published this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Across Spain, the INE has confirmed the data that I had already shared two weeks agoThus, in Spain, prices rose on average in February by 2.3% compared to the same month last year and by 0.4% compared to January. The decrease in electricity prices was the factor that most curbed inflation. At the other end of the spectrum, fuel, hospitality, and food—particularly fruit and vegetables—were the items that increased the most in price.