Almost one in four cars sold in Catalonia in the first quarter of this year are plugged in, according to data published this Wednesday by the automotive sector employers' associations Anfac, Fecavem and Ganvam. Thus, in Catalonia, 34,340 cars and SUVs were sold from January to March, of which 23.8% can be connected to the electrical grid: that is, they are plug-in hybrids or pure electrics.

Wallbox, the Catalan company for electric car charging systems, has closed the debt restructuring agreement for an amount of 169.5 million euros with the main creditors, representing more than 83% of the company's financial debt, as well as the main shareholders and institutional investors, through a capital increase. An increase in which the Generalitat will become a shareholder in the company.

The escalation of the war in the Middle East, with the entry of the Houthis into the conflict, has sent oil prices soaring this Monday, reaching highs since the beginning of the war. During the day, the price of a barrel of Brent crude exceeded 115 dollars, although it later fell slightly and by the afternoon was around 112 dollars per barrel.

It all began with the solidarity and involvement of some young people during the covid-19 pandemic, in 2020. They asked people to donate tablets to recondition them so that the elderly people in hospitals or residences could communicate with their families, who could not visit them due to mobility restrictions. In fact, more than one person was able to say goodbye to their family thanks to these devices.

Distributing renewable energy generation across the territory to meet the goal of zero emissions by 2050 is the objective of the Territorial Plan for the Implementation of Renewable Energies (PLATER). This plan details how much photovoltaic energy each municipality must contribute and how much wind power each region must generate. The plan has just received preliminary approval, and a three-month public comment period will soon open so that town councils, regional councils, and any other interested parties can submit their input. The aim is for final approval early next year.

Puig's shares surged by almost 15% on the stock market after reporting on Monday, at the close of trading. who is having talks with the American Estée Lauder to study a possible business merger. Shares of the majority family-owned company ended the day with a 12.97% gain, reaching €17.59 – the best-performing stock on the Ibex 35 – allowing it to recover some of the losses it has suffered since its initial public offering on May 3, 2014. According to statements made Monday night by the Catalan perfume and cosmetics company to the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) and by Estée Lauder to the US regulator, the SEC, no final decision has been made nor has any agreement been reached between the parties. In this regard, the company emphasized that, without a firm agreement, there is no guarantee that the transaction will materialize, nor on what terms. But the markets have already done their calculations regarding a deal that could create a new giant in the sector, with a greater capacity to compete with the current leader, the French company L'Oréal (with brands such as Lancôme, Garnier, and Maybelline), whose main shareholders are the Bettencourt Meyers family and Nestlé, and which has a value of over 10.

The reduction in VAT on fuel has slowed the price increases, but fuels are still more expensive than before the start of the war in Iran. Furthermore, the fuel currently being sold at gas stations was purchased a few days ago and therefore does not yet reflect the reduction in the special tax on hydrocarbons.

Every time there is an energy crisis, the debate resurfaces about whether it is necessary to extend the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants. In fact, in Spain—and in Catalonia—it is a recurring debate that is currently at a crucial juncture, because The Spanish government has a pending decision on the table that could determine the future of this technology: whether or not to extend the lifespan of the Almaraz nuclear power plant.If the decision is to extend the life of that nuclear unit, it opens the door to doing so with the rest. If the decision is made to close it, the timeline will begin that must lead to Spain having no more operating nuclear power plants by 2035.

Hashimoto Takuma was three years old when he and his family had to hastily leave their home in Iwaki. It was March 11, 2011, the day a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck. They impacted the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japanand caused the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. The surges breached the containment walls, flooded the cooling systems, and triggered core meltdowns in three reactors and hydrogen explosions. The accident forced more than 150,000 people to evacuate their homes to survive. From that day forward, Fukushima became an active nuclear disaster, a situation that persists to this day.

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has stated in its report that the massive blackout of April 28th of last year, which left the Iberian Peninsula in darkness for hours, could have been avoided. There were "legislative and regulatory tools available, as well as mechanisms to guarantee supplyThe supervisory body notes, although it considers it necessary to address improvements in the electricity system "to respond to the current needs of the system and provide it with greater robustness." The report does not point fingers at those responsible for the blackout and includes some improvements that could be introduced to improve the system's operation and prevent new incidents. Almost eleven months after the peninsular blackout, the regulator has published its advisory report, issued "without prejudice to any other actions that may be appropriate within the framework of the ongoing investigation into the incident." The report, prepared by a panel of European experts from ENTSO-E (the European regulators of electricity networks), proposes recommendations to strengthen the efficiency and resilience of the Spanish electricity system, based on the conclusions drawn from the incident investigation. The system is undergoing a transformation characterized by a high penetration of renewable generation, greater operational complexity, and increasing voltage volatility.

The agency emphasizes that the information gathered through specific requests and meetings held with the sector in working groups "has allowed for a deeper diagnosis of the current state of the electricity system and the measures needed to address it." As areas for improvement to meet the system's current needs and make it more robust, the CNMC sees a need to implement measures that "mitigate sudden changes in voltage"and also analyze the evolution of the other system parameters from the point of view of the impact they have on voltage variations."

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The State Holding Company for Industrial Participations (SEPI), the state's investment arm, has acknowledged a conflict of interest at Indra, the state-owned technology and defense company, regarding the potential acquisition of Escribano Mechanical & Engineering SL (EM&M), a defense company owned by the family of Indra's chairman. In a statement to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), SEPI indicated that it "has conveyed to Indra its concern about the influence this conflict of interest has on the analysis of this transaction, despite the measures taken to mitigate it." In fact, SEPI asserts that any conflict of interest between Indra and EM&M should be resolved before the transaction takes place. For this reason, SEPI stated, it requested that "this conflict of interest be resolved so that the analysis of the transaction can continue and a decision can be made that is as advantageous as possible for Indra."

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Current rental regulations are benefiting those with higher purchasing power. This is one of the conclusions of the annual report prepared by Amat Immobiliaris, based on its own rental and sales data in the markets where it operates—primarily the Barcelona metropolitan area, especially the Catalan capital, Sant Just Desvern, and Sant Cugat del Vallès. "Those who benefit most from the regulations are those with greater purchasing power," stated Guifré Homedes, the group's CEO, because "if an apartment is rented for €1,000, it's more likely that someone who can pay €1,200 will be able to afford it." The report makes it clear that the most significant problem with the rental market is the lack of supply, and while it appreciates the government's Plan 50,000 initiative to promote affordable rental housing in Catalonia through public-private partnerships, it concludes that this will not yield tangible results until at least 2030. Amat Immobiliaris asserts that the rental market supply is not recovering and is becoming "polarized," shifting towards larger apartments. This trend is driving up rental prices in its portfolio despite the rent cap in place in high-demand areas. Furthermore, the group's data also shows that, for the second consecutive year, the percentage of contracts signed by younger tenants is decreasing, and that the typical local tenant is now between 40 and 60 years old. "Young tenants are having a very difficult time," stated Homedes. As a result, the average cost of rent has risen from €15.09 per square meter per month in 2024 to €16.45 per square meter per month in 2025, an increase of 8.9%. Similarly, the average absolute rental income also increased from €1,384 to €1,482 per month, a rise of 7.1%.

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There have been developments in the communications sector this past week. Cristina Garmendia, who served as Minister of Science in José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's government, has decided to step down as president of the Mediaset television group. Mario Rodríguez, until now the company's corporate general manager and director of institutional relations, takes over as the new president. Also in the audiovisual world, the Mediapro Group is strengthening its market and advertiser services with the creation of a market research department. This new division is headed by Kike Lozano, formerly the general manager of the audiovisual consultancy Geca.

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The war in the Middle East has rapidly driven up oil and natural gas prices, with one clear strategic geographic point becoming Iran's primary weapon: the Strait of Hormuz. This maritime passage carries approximately a quarter to a fifth of the world's crude oil and natural gas. Its closure by Iran, aside from disrupting global energy markets, directly impacts the region's economies, as they cannot sell the oil and gas they extract and, in some cases, have had to shut down their refineries and liquefaction plants. Furthermore, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens shortages of crude oil, gas, and petroleum products in many countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, which are the largest buyers of products from producers on the Arabian Peninsula, as illustrated in the infographic.

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Seat-Cupra achieved a turnover of 15,115 million euros in 2025, 5.1% more than the previous year and a record figure for the company. During the past year it sold 586,300 cars5% more than the previous year and also a record figure. But despite these good sales and revenue results, the company's net profit remained at only 40.9 million euros, whereas a year earlier it had exceeded 522 million euros.

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The Basque Country, Catalonia, and the Valencian Community are the three regions with the lowest proportion of renewable energy generation relative to their total electricity production, according to data published Wednesday by Red Eléctrica de España, the state-owned company that operates the Spanish electricity system. Specifically, in the Basque Country, only 17% of the energy generated is from renewable sources; in Catalonia, it's 18%; and in the Valencian Community, it's 20%. At the other end of the spectrum are Castile and León, with 94% of its generation from renewable sources; Aragon, with 83%; Galicia, with 82%; and Castile-La Mancha, with 69%. These figures, however, must be put into context. For example, in the Community of Madrid, 50% of its generation is renewable, yet it is a region that produces very little energy overall. Thus, Madrid's renewable energy production is 625 GWh, while Catalonia's is 6,935 GWh.

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The National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) will monitor fuel prices at gas stations to prevent abuses and disproportionate price increases amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Vice President Sara Aagesen announced this. The NewspaperShe sent a letter to the supervisory body entrusting it with this task. "It is important that the supervisory body be very vigilant so that consumers do not suffer any undesirable impact, beyond that caused by the energy markets themselves," noted the Minister for Ecological Transition. The US and Israeli attack on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory measures have caused a surge in the price of crude oil, which recently reached $117.

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Climate change has a direct cost to insurance companiesThe figures are clear: in 2025, insurance companies in Spain paid €492 million for claims directly related to climate change; specifically, 628,800 claims, according to data released this Monday by the industry association, Unespa. However, this figure is below the average of recent years, which amounts to around €800 million annually. According to the association, last year the equivalent of 1,723 incidents and €1.34 million in costs were recorded every day, with an average cost per incident of €783, according to data collected by Unespa. Various institutions participate in managing damages caused by natural phenomena. Most claims—such as those resulting from snow, hail, rain, or winds below 120 km/h—are covered by private insurers. For its part, the Insurance Compensation Consortium intervenes when floods, storm surges, sustained winds exceeding 120 km/h – known as atypical cyclonic storms (ACS) – or geological events such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions occur. These events are considered "extraordinary phenomena." Unespa's data refers exclusively to weather-related claims that correspond to insurance payouts. The breakdown by insurance sector indicates that homes were the most affected, accounting for two-thirds of weather-related claims (407,885 incidents), followed by homeowners' associations (123,024 claims) and automobiles (43,265). Households also accounted for the largest share of payouts, with €213 million (43.3% of the total), followed by industries, with €114 million, and automobiles, with another €77 million. Although multi-risk insurance has the highest volume of policies for homes, the most expensive claims, from an economic standpoint, were registered in industries, according to Unespa. In this sector, the average cost amounted to €3,532 per claim, compared to an average of €523 for households. If the comparison is made based on the natural phenomenon causing the damage, hail stands out—with an average cost of €1,814—and wind, with an average of €739. In absolute terms, however, the impact of rain is significant. This atmospheric phenomenon accounted for more than 58% of all claims and more than 36% of total payouts (€178 million). Hail damage was also significant, representing 17.7% of claims and 41.1% of payouts (€202 million). Wind, meanwhile, accounted for slightly less than a quarter of claims and payouts (€111 million). The impact of snow was minimal in 2025.

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Donald Trump is trying to curb the soaring price of oil, fueled by fears that the Iran-Contra conflict will drag on. After seeing the price of a barrel of crude oil soar above $100—a level not seen since 2022, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine—the US president declared that the campaign "is almost over." "I think the war is almost over. They have no warships, they have no communication, they have no air force," the tycoon said on CBS. And the market has decided to take Trump's word for it: the price of a barrel of crude oil has fallen back below $90. The stock market, which had also opened with sharp declines due to the threat of an energy crisis, recovered shortly before the close of trading on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had suffered a plunge of nearly 900 points at the start of the session, rebounded by 239. Trump knew what he was doing when he made this statement on CBS, shortly before Wall Street closed. After managing to weather another day with some damage control, the president has adopted an ambiguous stance regarding his words. In his address in Florida at the Republican Party Members' Conference, the tycoon said, "We will not stop until the enemy is completely destroyed." He also insisted that the conflict "will end very quickly."

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The rising price of oil as a consequence of the war in Iran This has quickly been passed on to fuel prices, which have skyrocketed in the last week. This is known as the rocket and feather effect, which states that when oil becomes more expensive, fuel prices rise rapidly, while when crude oil becomes cheaper, fuel prices fall slowly.

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