PROPERTY SEARCH
PROPERTY SEARCH
Food prices climb again as Spain’s inflation hits the highest since 2023
From berries to eggs, nearly 30 everyday products are now more than 5% pricier than a year ago, while fuel costs keep driving the squeeze
If your trolley feels heavier on your wallet than it used to, the figures back that up. Spain’s annual inflation rate reached 4.9% in September, its highest level since February 2023, according to final data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). It’s the third month running that inflation has risen, and the second in a row above 4%.Food is where many households will feel it most directly. Berries have jumped 47.4% over the year, tomatoes and peppers are up 17.3%, citrus fruit has risen 15.1% and eggs are 12.3% dearer. These are everyday basics people buy every week, which is exactly why the Consumers and Users Organisation (OCU) is sounding the alarm.
The OCU found that 29 product categories have now seen price rises above 5% over the past year, against just three that have fallen by more than that. “This imbalance reflects that inflationary pressures are no longer concentrated exclusively on energy but are spreading to an increasing number of products and services,” the OCU said.
It’s not just food either. Jewellery and watches have risen 22.8%, air fares 15.3% and baby clothes 13.6%. There are a few bright spots for shoppers though. Train tickets have fallen 11.2% over the year, helped along by new rail operators entering the market after liberalisation, while ferry fares are down 7.3%. Newspapers, sports equipment, coffee and video game consoles have all become cheaper too.
Fuel remains the biggest driver
The INE points to fuel prices and the rising cost of package holidays as the main forces behind September’s jump, with housing costs, including water, electricity and gas bills, adding a smaller push of their own at 7.2%.
Fuel is where the numbers get genuinely startling. Liquid fuels, which cover things like heating oil, have risen 64.7% over the year, diesel is up 34% and petrol 27.5%. Those rises are being driven largely by conflict in the Middle East and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies, which has squeezed Europe’s fuel supply and pushed the government to keep its fuel discounts running. By the end of September, a litre of petrol averaged €1.939, up almost 35% since the end of June, while diesel reached €1.934, its highest price since mid 2022.
The government’s 20 cent per litre discount on petrol and diesel will stay in place through November, dropping to at least 13 cents in December. Transport operators are getting extra support too, with diesel tax refunds rising in stages from 5 cents in October to 19 cents by December, alongside continued help for the agriculture and fishing sectors.
Help is available for struggling families
For households finding the weekly shop particularly tough, there is some practical support on offer. The Tarjeta Monedero, a prepaid card scheme for lower income families with children, provides between €100 and €220 a month depending on household size, which can be spent at participating shops on food and essential hygiene products.
Applications go through local town hall social services or authorised organisations such as Cruz Roja, with a social worker assessing income, the family book and padrón certificate before the card is issued.
Image: neelam279/Pixabay
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