The increase 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 risen by almost 63% on average between 2015 and 2025. L'ARA has compiled a ranking of municipalities where prices have soared 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.

The cost of living for families has maintained this May the slowdown recorded the previous month, despite the continuation of the war in Iran and instability in energy markets, according to provisional data advanced this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The effects of the war in Iran continue to tighten the screws on the fruit and vegetable sector, which finds it increasingly difficult to contain the costs of fruit and vegetables. This Wednesday, companies in the sector - through a survey by the main association of manufacturers and distributors in the State (Aecoc) - have warned of the possibility of new price increases in the not-too-distant future if the conflict in the Middle East drags on.

The reduction in electricity and natural gas bills moderated the increase in the cost of living in April, both in Catalonia and in Spain as a whole. The measures approved by the Spanish government to reduce some taxes on electricity and gas had the desired effect, although, on the other hand, the cost of fuel continued to rise due to uncertainty in international energy markets because of the war in Iran.

Thousands of people participated this midday in the demonstration called by UGT and CCOO in Barcelona for Worker's Day, the central event of the day of protests in Catalonia. The Urban Guard put the participation in the protest at 2,500 people, while the organizers estimated there were between 10,000 and 15,000. Workers have mobilized spurred by international geopolitical instability and the electoral calendar in the State.

The fiscal measures to reduce the cost of electricity and fuels approved a month ago by the Spanish government have had a positive effect on the prices of goods and services consumed by families, which has allowed to moderate the inflation that had skyrocketed in March as a consequence of the energy crisis derived from the war in Iran.

The fiscal measures to reduce the cost of electricity and fuel approved a month ago by the Spanish government have had a positive effect on the prices of goods and services consumed by families, which has allowed to moderate the inflation that had soared in March as a consequence of the energy crisis derived from the war in Iran.

The major distribution companies in Spain have warned that private consumption shows "slight signs of exhaustion" caused by the war in Iran, at the annual meeting that the entity grouping them (Aecoc) held this Tuesday in Barcelona. Domestic consumption and investment have marked the good performance of the Spanish economy once the pandemic hecatomb was overcome. Now, the president of Aecoc, José María Bonmatí, has assured that "we are still in very positive ratios", but has warned that "the consumer confidence index is not particularly sky-high". "Crises begin and end when the consumer perceives it that way," he recalled.

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 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 US and Israeli attacks on Iran are already impacting people's wallets. The situation will worsen the longer the conflict lasts and the longer it takes to resolve the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas passes. "Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, but we do know that the risk is very high," says Javier Díaz-Giménez, a professor at IESE Business School. The problem is that we are in a context of uncertainty and volatility, adds Pedro Aznar, an economics professor at ESADE Business School.

As the hours pass, more details are emerging about the measures the Spanish government is considering to address the energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East. While on Thursday, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo hinted at specific aid for the sectors hardest hit by rising fuel prices—agriculture and road transport, among others—on Friday, the Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, raised the possibility of reducing the government's VAT rate in 2021, when energy prices skyrocketed. "Yes, we are also considering this measure," Aagesen told the media on Friday morning. In 2025, the VAT on electricity returned to 21%, ending the tax reductions of recent years.

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 government is determined to approve a plan of measures to address the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, but first wants to consult with the political parties in Congress, whose support it will need, as well as with social partners (major unions and employers' associations). In this way, Moncloa will initiate a "round of talks," in the words of the Spanish government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, with the different political groups to assess what measures can be taken—this will also serve to understand the parties' demands, some of which, like Podemos and the PP, have already been put forward. A distinctive feature of this round, however, will be the inclusion of Vox, which the Pedro Sánchez administration has excluded on other occasions. In fact, it was excluded from the round of talks last January to inform them about the deployment of Spanish troops to Ukraine. Government sources clarify that "it's not the same" because this time it's not about informing them about the Spanish government's position on foreign policy, but about implementing "good measures." Furthermore, it will not be Spanish President Pedro Sánchez who presides over the meetings with the parties, but rather the Minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños. Moncloa is seeking the broadest possible consensus to approve a stimulus plan. And that includes the far right, even though Santiago Abascal's party has systematically avoided supporting the Sánchez administration's initiatives. In fact, they are being called upon now when it comes to finding measures to mitigate the effects of the Trump administration's attack on Iran, knowing that Vox is the main ally in Spain of the President of the United States. For the moment, the People's Party (PP), which also maintains its distance from the Socialist Party (PSOE), has reacted with skepticism. The PP's spokesperson in Congress, Ester Muñoz, has refused to participate "in a propaganda campaign to cover up the scandals" of the Socialists, although she has not ruled out a meeting. Bolaños will be responsible for calling and scheduling meetings with the political parties to negotiate and seek their support for the measures. The Spanish government wants to begin these meetings this week, but has not specified whether they will continue beyond this week. Nor has it specified a timeline for when a concrete package of proposals might be ready, although the possibility of an imminent release has diminished in recent days. The government has requested some time to properly assess the economic impact, especially considering the volatility of energy prices. In parallel with these meetings with the political parties, the three vice-presidencies, as well as the Ministry of Social Security, are scheduling meetings with the trade unions CCOO and UGT, and the Spanish employers' association CEOE to also study the potential measures. Specific and structural measures

The Third Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, explained on Tuesday that the plan being considered by the Spanish government will include both short-term measures and structural ones. "It must be an effective response," she asserted. The short-term measures should protect businesses, workers, and families and could include proposals already approved in 2022, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: for example, fuel subsidies or VAT reductions on food. The structural measures would serve to strengthen strategic autonomy and the energy transition, the minister said, with the aim of being "less exposed" to price volatility. The People's Party (PP) has been demanding tax cuts for days to offset the increase in energy prices, but warns that it will not accept "communist" measures introduced "through the back door." This proposal clashes with the position put forward by Podemos, which has called for an "anti-Trump plan" that includes nationalizing Repsol, creating a public bank, and "expropriating" homes from vulture funds.

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The war in Iran and its ramifications in the Middle East are not only putting pressure on commodity prices like oil and gas, but are already being felt "in the pockets of Spaniards and in their daily lives," as Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo acknowledged this Monday from Brussels. Since the US and Israeli attack on Iran, the Spanish government has been monitoring the impact of the conflict on the Spanish economy and is open to taking measures. "This government will respond," government sources indicate. The current scenario has revived the specter of four years ago, when the Russian attack in Ukraine unleashed an unprecedented energy and inflationary crisis: the price of a MWh... pool Electricity, for example, is breaking all records.

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Inflation in Spain remained flat in the second month of the year. In February, prices rose by 2.3% compared to a year ago, as published this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This is the same year-on-year inflation rate recorded in January and marks the end of three consecutive months of declines. On a month-on-month basis, the preliminary data for the Consumer Price Index (CPI, the indicator that measures the evolution of the cost of living for citizens) for this month of February shows a 0.4% increase in the prices of goods and services that families regularly consume compared to the previous month. The INE will confirm both figures next March.

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