The general strike called this Wednesday in the Spanish state is expected to gather thousands of people to protest the cost of living, with special emphasis on the price of housing. But the unrest behind it is shared beyond the border. The feeling of suffocation in the face of an unexpected bill, the race against time to save faster than inflation rises, the frustration before a supermarket shelf with soaring prices, and the uncertainty of a truncated future run through all of Europe. And this unrest has crystallized into mobilizations across the continent.

Buyers from outside the State are losing weight in the housing market for the first time since 2023. Between January and June, they have acquired 9% fewer properties than during the same period in 2025, according to the Notarial Observatory of Catalonia. Even so, they still carry out almost two out of every ten purchases authorized in the country, 18.5%. In absolute terms, there are 10,293 operations.

The prices of goods and services that families usually consume have continued to rise this month of October in the State, according to advance 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), despite a moderation in fuel prices. Furthermore, the state statistical body has also published preliminary data on the evolution of the Spanish economy between July and September, which maintained its growth rate and continues to expand above the European average.

A friend sends me a beautiful photograph of a banner hanging in France, with the streets full of protesters, where it reads: “The bourgeoisie will prepare for war, the youth prepare the future”. It is this constant tension between the pessimistic and self-interested vision of fear, that of blaming migrants or the growth of cities (can you imagine if our grandparents, in the sixties, had opposed the demographic trend?) and the responsibility of planning a somewhat more encouraging future that connects me with the great authors of European urban planning and architecture. Why get into the mud of projects and construction work, instead of settling for what is already there?

Eating from a set menu remains one of the common options for dining out, but it is becoming a bit more expensive each time. The price of the daily menu now reaches 14.7 euros on average in Spain, compared to 14.2 euros in 2025. This represents an increase of 3.5% in one year, according to the latest survey by Hostelería de España and Edenred, which analyzes the evolution of prices and the habits of establishments.

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.