Inflation rises to 8.2% in May in Catalonia

The year-on-year inflation rate in Catalonia in May was 8.2%, up from the previous month's 8% but still far below the record-high 9.5% seen in March, according to figures made public by Spain's Statistics Institute (INE) on Friday.

This is the second-highest rate since 2002 when the INE began to keep records of inflation in Catalonia.

Catalonia's Consumer Price Index is slightly below Spain's: 8.7% in May.

Price increases in energy and fuel have skyrocketed ever since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, leading to various truck drivers, taxi drivers, and general public protests in March. In fact, in May prices of electricity, gas, and other fuels increased by 35.7%, despite being lower than the price registered in April. 

Food and non-alcohol beverages prices are also on the rise. Food increased up to 9.5% and non-alcoholic beverages drop prices to 6.7%, 0.4 percentage points less than the previous month. Alcoholic beverages did increase by 4.4% and clothes by 3.5%.

The INE indicates there has been a drop in electricity prices. This could be mainly driven by an agreement between the Spanish, and Portuguese governments and the European Commission to cap the price of gas for a year. 

But fuel prices have increased significantly, making the 20-cent discount per liter of fuel unnoticeable. 

Hotel prices have also increased ahead of what is set to be a good summer season after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Catalonia's economical growth

The Catalan economy registered growth during the first quarter of 2022. The increase of 6.4% is based on a year-to-year preview, according to data released by the Catalan Idescat agency. 

It is the same rise compared to the Spanish economy and 0.8 percentage points more than the European average (5.6%).  

For more on the cost of living crisis, have a listen to the episode below of our podcast, Filling the Sink, published in early April.