The rise in fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East sent the cost of living soaring in Catalonia and Spain in March, the first month with the war's effects, according to consumer price index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living for families) data published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The US economy has been feeling the effects of the war in the Middle East and the escalating price of oil for some time now. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in March confirms this and reveals how the impact of the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is reaching the pockets of Americans, as it soared to 3.3%, the highest level since May 2024. This rise coincides with market forecasts, which already expected a considerable escalation compared to February's 2.4% as a consequence of high gasoline prices.

Until 2022, and for more than 10 years, a hamburger chain sold one of theirs for 1 euro. Today, one costs 1.85. This is one of the clearest examples of inflation. And your salary, has it increased by 85% in 3 years? This is one of the best examples of the loss of purchasing power.

The war in Iran and the resulting increase in energy costs have impacted inflation in Spain. Thus, the cost of living for families this March has notably increased compared to February, as a result of the rise in prices of fuels and electricity.

The war in Iran and the resulting energy price increase have impacted inflation in Spain. Thus, the cost of living for families this March has become notably more expensive compared to February, as a result of the rise in prices of fuels and electricity.

The cost of living for Catalan families rose slightly in February, despite remaining within the limits set by the European Central Bank (ECB). 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 rise in inflation is mainly due to the increase in fuel costs, which is expected to be even more pronounced in the coming months, with a monthly increase of 1.7%. Tourism and hospitality also became more expensive in February, with an average increase of 1.2%.

The Spanish economy accelerated its growth rate during the last three months of 2025, nearly doubling the expected growth rate for the eurozone, according to preliminary data released Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This placed Spain among the leading growth countries in the European Union for another quarter. Meanwhile, the cost of living for families moderated in January after three consecutive months of price increases.

Catalonia was the second autonomous community with the lowest inflation in December and maintains, for the tenth consecutive month, a growth in the cost of living below the State average, where Madrid led the increase in the cost of living, according to data from the consumer price index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living) published this Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics.

The cost of living in Spain moderated in December thanks to lower fuel prices, according to preliminary data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures price changes) released Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). As a result, inflation across the country ended the year slightly below the projected growth rate for 2024.

Catalonia recorded an annual price increase lower than the Spanish average in November, which puts the Catalan inflation rate below the national rate for the ninth consecutive month, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living for families) published this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics.

Looking at annual inflation, the official figure shows a 3% price increase compared to last November. Does this really not surprise anyone? In reality, bills continue to climb. Eggs have gone up 22%, coffee almost 20%, bananas 35%, and housing 13%. With such obvious increases in basic goods and services, how can we explain that overall inflation is only 3%?

The cost of living in Spain continued to rise this November, although at a more moderate pace than the previous monthAccording to preliminary data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living for families) published this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE), food and, to a lesser extent, leisure and cultural services, have been the items that have become most expensive this month, which was also marked by cheaper electricity. Thus, the CPI has increased by 0.2% this month compared to October, a more moderate growth rate than the 0.7% recorded between September and last month. If prices are compared to November 2024, the increase has been 3%, one-tenth of a percentage point less than the year-on-year rate for October. Although lower, the annual increase of 3% is among the highest of the last two years and one percentage point above the 2% target set by the European Central Bank in the long term.

The data reflects a sharp increase in egg prices in recent months. A dozen medium-sized eggs, which are usually the most consumed, has gone from around two euros to more than three in the store. The final price of this basic product cannot be compared to the price hike experienced by olive oil. However, it is a rise that has begun to worry consumers, although its impact on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), due to its weighting, is very insignificant compared, for example, to other basic products like bread. In any case, everyone immediately recalled the effects of avian flu and the measures that the Spanish government implemented to prevent the spread of the disease among birds, such as their confinement. Some of the price increase is related, those in the sector admit, but the data shows that a large part corresponds to the improved profit margins of those who sell the eggs to the end consumer. In January, the farmgate price of a dozen eggs – the price farmers received for their product – was €1.74, while the retail price to the end consumer was €2.40. This difference means that consumers were paying 38% more than farmers received, according to monitoring by COAG (the Spanish Confederation of Farmers' and Livestock Organizations). The fact is that, in October, the farmgate price of the same dozen eggs was €1.97, while consumers were paying €3.15 in stores. The profit margin for intermediaries or distributors has increased by 22 percentage points. If in January the difference between the farmgate price and what the consumer pays was 66 cents, in October it rose to €1.18, a significant increase. The price for farmers increased by 13% during this period, while the price paid by consumers rose by 31%.

Electricity, food, and clothing were the products that contributed most to the increased cost of living for Catalan families this past October, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures inflation) published this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). Both in Catalonia and throughout Spain, prices rose again after three months of declines or very low growth. Thus, the prices of consumer goods and services increased by 0.4% last month compared to September, following the decrease recorded that month compared to August. Compared to October 2014, the increase was 2.6%. Across Spain, the INE confirmed the monthly and annual increases of 0.7% and 3.1%, respectively, which had already been reported. had advanced two weeks agoIn the case of Spain, last month's 3.1% inflation rate is the highest annual rate since June 2014 and exceeds the European Central Bank's (ECB) medium- and long-term target of 2% by more than one percentage point. In Catalonia, however, the 2.6% figure is lower than those recorded last winter, when inflation peaked at 3.1% in February. Only the Canary Islands and Murcia registered lower inflation rates than Catalonia, while the Balearic Islands and Madrid led the price increases with a year-on-year rise of 3.6% in both cases.

The cost of living has risen again this October. Prices for consumer goods and services for families climbed once more after three months of decline, due to increased electricity and transportation costs, particularly rail and air travel, according to preliminary data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living) released this Thursday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This month, prices rose by an average of 0.7% compared to September, a figure that contrasts with the 0.3% drop between September and August. In the two previous months, prices also remained stagnant, with monthly rates of 0% in August and -0.1% in July, although prices typically increase during the summer months due to the rise in consumption associated with holiday periods.

Food prices have risen significantly since the end of the pandemic, hitting lower-income families hardest, both in Catalonia and across Spain and Europe. This is the main conclusion of the study. Why is the price of food rising? The role of the food oligopoly and proposals for a change in the model, published this Wednesday by the Barcelona Institute for Urban Research (IDRA). The study, prepared by researchers Rubén Martínez and Adrià Rodríguez, points out that strong business concentration, both globally and in national distribution, explains why food inflation has been so high over the past four years.

The cost of living fell in September in both Catalonia and Spain, although prices for household consumer goods and services were significantly higher than year-earlier levels, mainly due to the rise in fuel prices and, to a lesser extent, electricity prices over the past year, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published Wednesday.

Inflation in recent years has acted as an indirect wage adjustment: while companies have increased profit margins, staff salaries have not grown nearly as fast as prices. This is the CGT of Catalonia's diagnosis of the macroeconomic context that has led to a loss of purchasing power for Catalan workers, which the union estimates at 4.1% between 2021 and 2024.

The cost of living for Spanish families fell this September compared to August, although fuel and, to a lesser extent, electricity prices were almost 3% higher than a year earlier, according to advance data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the cost of living) published this Monday by the National Institute.

When unions and companies negotiate wage increases within a collective bargaining agreement, there is never a single, automatic formula. This back-and-forth combines different criteria and can contribute, for example, to the fact that the company in question has increased its profits, that its sector is experiencing growth, or that the workforce is exerting pressure through protests and strikes.