Low-cost gas stations, or those found in some supermarket chains, have helped to lower the impact of rising fuel costs on consumers' pockets, according to a study by the Catalan Competition Authority (ACCO) on fuel price increases, presented this Thursday. The authority also notes that between 25% and 30% of the Spanish government's aid for diesel has not served to lower prices, but rather to increase corporate margins, although the subsidy for gasoline has indeed reached practically 100% of the final consumer.

The cost of living for families continues to rise due to the increase in energy prices –particularly fuels–, and it is at its highest since February 2023 for the second consecutive month. Specifically, in September, the prices of all consumer goods and services in Catalonia soared by 4.5% compared to the same month a year ago, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data published this Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

How much does a 'tallat' cost in Barcelona? It depends on the neighborhood. A coffee that is part of the routine of thousands of people can also serve to observe the economic differences of a city. With this idea, the Barcelona-based studio Domestic Data Streamers and the research center Cedra have promoted The 'tallat' census, a research and data project, but also an interactive experience to explore what the price of a coffee says about the place where it is consumed.

In the summer, when it was already clear that the Iran war was going to be a long one, at the register of a fairly well-known coffee shop chain in Washington, a discreet sign was framed in black. "A notice to our customers: from time to time, we have to adjust our prices to reflect the rising cost of ingredients and operations." In the pastry and cake display case, it was easy to spot the slight increase. The butter cookies with chocolate, which previously cost 90 cents each, now cost a dollar.

The Bank of Spain has increased its inflation forecasts, which it places, for this year and 2027, well above the targets set by the European Central Bank (ECB). The monetary body presented its quarterly macroeconomic forecast report this Friday, in which it also forecasts the growth of the Spanish economy.

The year-on-year inflation rate for the euro area stood at 3.8% in September, six tenths of a percentage point above the price increase in August, according to the preliminary reading of the data published this Friday by Eurostat, the European statistics office. The year-on-year price increase of 3.8% is the highest rise since September 2023, when the increase was 4.3%.

The rise in fuel prices –provoked by the sharp increase in oil prices as a result of the war in Iran– gives no respite and triggers inflation in Spain. Thus, this September, the cost of living for families has stood at 4.9% above the same month last year, the highest rate since February 2023, according to advance data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the evolution of the prices of goods and services consumed by families) published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

With inflation once again through the roof and without prospects of it falling imminently –the European Central Bank (ECB) has resumed raising interest rates–, the Spanish government has been forced to extend part of the measures put in place due to the war in Iran, which were set to expire this September 30th. It is, therefore, the third package of measures approved by Pedro Sánchez's executive to mitigate the effects of the conflict on the cost of living, and it will cost the public coffers 12 billion euros.

The escalation of prices, particularly of fuel, due to the war in Iran is forcing the Spanish government to continue deploying aid aimed at families, businesses, and the sectors most affected such as transport or the agri-food sector (with the start of the war, a package of measures was launched that expires this September 30). This is taken for granted at the Ministry of Economy and has been conveyed as such by the head of this portfolio, Carlos Cuerpo, to unions and employers' associations in a meeting this Thursday.

The cost of living for families continues to rise due to the increase in energy prices. In August, the prices of the set of consumer goods and services in Catalonia shot up by 4% annually, the highest figure since January 2023, but lower than the Spanish average, according to data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published this Tuesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Room rentals are one of the loopholes that landlords in Catalonia have found to bypass rent caps. Consequently, in December, Parliament approved a law to regulate seasonal and room rentals, a pioneering initiative in Spain.

Imagine entering the website of an appliance store to buy a refrigerator. The company, through your personal data, knows if you live in a rented property or if you own your home, detects your zip code, and recognizes if you have children. It also knows what you do for a living, what brand your mobile phone is, and how many times a month you go to a restaurant. Taking all these variables into account, it shows you a price just for you, different from what might appear to the neighbor next door or your friend who lives three streets away. In the end, the goal is to charge you the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a product according to the calculations of an algorithm. It is what is known as surveillance pricing.

The Spanish economy maintained its high growth rate of recent years in the second quarter of 2026, above the European average. However, at the same time, the cost of living for families continues to rise, and this July will close at its highest levels since May 2024.

The cost of living in Spain remains high this June. The prices of goods and services consumed by families have accelerated their growth, mainly due to the end of tax reductions on electricity and gas that the Spanish government had approved last March and which expired from June 1st.

The debate is on the table as to whether fuel discounts will be extended until the end of September. We are talking about 21 cents per liter of gasoline and 29 cents per liter of diesel. This discount combines a reduction in VAT and another reduction in the hydrocarbon tax. With the current reduction, Spain is already at the lower limit of taxation allowed by the European Union. Why can the Government influence the price of fuel so much?According to the CNMC, approximately half of the price we pay corresponds to the costs and margins of the companies in the chain, while the other half consists of taxes: VAT and the hydrocarbon tax. In fact, gasoline bears a higher tax burden than diesel. The most striking thing is that VAT is calculated on the base price plus the hydrocarbon tax. In other words, we pay a tax on another tax. Therefore, any increase in price is immediately translated into more revenue for the State.As the holidays approach, the decision is more relevant than ever. An increase in fuel prices would drive up inflation in the coming months, which already stands at a worrying 3.2%. Let's not forget that energy is the raw material of all raw materials: when it becomes more expensive, it ends up making almost everything more expensive. Private car fuel consumption always rises during summer months. The price of fuel, moreover, conditions our perception of inflation. Few people consult the CPI every month, but everyone who drives knows how much it costs to fill the tank. When gasoline approached two euros per liter, it made headlines. Deep down, it's also a political climate decision. And, if not, there's always that joke that says no matter how much the price goes up, we can always put in 20 euros of gasoline.

The Strait of Hormuz continues to be the focus of global economic activity. Enagás CEO Arturo Gonzalo Aizpiri has stated that, if the peace agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz are confirmed, gas futures markets will not recover "full price normality" until "the end of next year or the beginning of 2028".

The rise in housing prices is not a problem exclusive to Barcelona and its metropolitan area. In Catalan municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, the value of the built square meter has increased by almost 63% on average between 2015 and 2025. L'ARA has compiled a ranking of the municipalities where prices have risen the most in the last decade, based on sales data collected by the Generalitat.

Single-parent families with one child in their care will have a 50% reduction in public university fees from the next academic year. Families with a single adult and two or more children, or with a disability or work incapacity, will be able to access public university free of charge. The Government will approve this coming Tuesday, at the executive council, the decree setting university fees, which will already incorporate the new measure, a "historic" demand from this group that equates these family models to large families – who already benefited from these discounts –, according to the Department of Research and Universities.

The cost of living in Catalonia moderated last May despite the upward pressures of fuel costs on family economies caused by the energy crisis derived from the war in Iran. Nevertheless, the measures approved by the Spanish government to cut taxes on electricity and natural gas curbed price increases.

The increase in gasoline prices has led inflation in the United States to reach its highest level in three years. According to data published this Wednesday by the Department of Labor, prices in the US rose by 4.2% last May compared to the same month last year.