Business

Madrid-based professionals are paid 2.24% more than in Catalonia and 20% more than in València. Catalonia’s salaries decreased, after having reached salary parity with Madrid in practical terms. The crisis has stopped salary convergence throughout Spain.

The professor of business direction and administration for IESE, Pedro Nueno, assures that conversations between the Catalan Government and the Chinese auto manufacturer Chery are “fully underway”.

The Masella and La Molina ski areas will open their slopes for skiers this weekend. They expect to sell over 2 million ski passes.

A Catalan company offers daily delivery of healthy and fresh vegetables harvested from the orchards to the big cities of Barcelona and Madrid. The family Barrabeig and Barraquer has found a niche market in the agricultural sector.

The ski vacation tour operator plans to operate 6 flights a week from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin and Belfast to the Lleida-Alguaire Airport. This new airport serves Lleida city as well as Lleida's Pyrenees.

The Catalan savings bank is the first financial institution in Spain to fully complete its merger project. Fernando Casado will succed Narcís Serra. The vice-presidents of the savings bank were also nominated.

The Catalan airline company has added 17 new flight destinations within the last year. It has also kicked off a new and improved customer loyalty programme, ‘Spanair Star’.

The number of new businesses in Catalonia grew 4.7% from August to September, with a total of 843 new businesses around Catalonia. 146 companies closed this September, 12% more than in September of 2009.

80% of Catalan municipalities registered decreases or stock stagnation during the 1st trimester of the year. For the 2nd trimester of the year, Catalonia registered decreases in real estate stock for the first time since 2006.

Catalonia saw its prices rise by 8 decimals in October, contributing to an annual inflation rate of 2.6%. Prices for apparel and footwear rose by 10.4 points in Catalonia, playing a heavy role in the overall increase of prices.

International passengers increased by 22.6% and passengers within Spain by 11% in comparison to the figures of October 2009. However, these positive figures contradict those of the Girona and Reus airports, where passengers dropped by 4 and 16.5% respectively due to Ryanair’s reduction of flights and its instalment at Barcelona.

The Catalan transport infrastructure service company received a net profit of 561 million euros during the first 9 months of 2010. This figure is a 4.2% higher than the same period in 2009.

The Barcelona International Boat Show begun last weekend and will run until the 14th of November. This year’s exhibit features ecological and sustainable boats.

Criteria CaixaCorp is the holding company of La Caixa savings bank. Criteria had a profit of 1,529 million euros in September. Profits from investments in foreign financial companies increased by 72%

Passenger traffic increased 12.7% and freight traffic 5.66% during the first 9 months of 2010. The Tarragona's harbour has also received good news: its passenger traffic increased 26% and freight traffic 63% for the same period.