Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin Nov 14

TOP STORIES: "Rampant consumerism: Black Friday is coming earlier and earlier each year" & "The latest egg crisis to hit Spain"

Are you one of those people who prefers to be early, or on time? (Or maybe you prefer to be fashionably late… picked up some Spanish habits, perhaps? “Ya voy… ahora mismo,” he said, knowing he wouldn’t leave for another 10 minutes).

I’m always early, myself. Early to rise in the morning. Early to bed. Premature in other areas of my life, too, I suppose, though we won’t go into details on that.

All of which is my way of excusing myself for being a bit keen on the news stories this week about Black Friday (still technically two weeks away) and Christmas (not happening for ages yet, though it will come rushing up before we know it, as it always does). I humbly ask forgiveness for this extreme punctuality.

But first…

What’s that got to do with the price of eggs?

Well, quite a lot actually, as it turns out. If you’ve been wincing at the supermarket checkout lately when picking up your weekly box of eggs, you’re certainly not alone. Eggs have become eye-wateringly expensive across Spain seemingly overnight and I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.

A dozen medium eggs that cost €2.14 back in February are now fetching €3.14. Large eggs have jumped from €2.33 to €3.25 over the same period. According to the Spanish Consumers’ Organisation, the cumulative increase since 2021 has reached a staggering 137%.

In the last couple of weeks, prices have been hiked up again. The culprit behind all this is bird flu, and it’s spreading fast. This week alone, the cold snap has accelerated outbreaks across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed 14 cases in Valladolid, Huelva, Toledo, Badajoz, Guadalajara and Madrid. Across the entire EU, there are now 139 active outbreaks.

This is being called the worst avian influenza epidemic Europe has ever seen and honestly, looking at the numbers, it’s hard to argue otherwise.

The situation is so bad that on Monday the Spanish government locked down all poultry operations. Birds can no longer be kept outdoors, a drastic measure already taken by Germany and France as they battle the same crisis.

Here in Spain, we keep around 47.8 million laying hens and so far this year, 2.65 million birds have either died from the disease or been culled to prevent its spread. That’s quite a chunk of our egg-laying capacity gone, just like that.

It’s very bad news indeed for our feathered friends, who are facing a miserable winter literally cooped up, and they’ll remain in lockdown until conditions improve and the threat has passed, whenever that might be.

There’s hardly a corner of the country bird flu hasn’t touched, but the seriousness of the epidemic does vary from place to place. In the Valencian Community, for example, 138 municipalities have been designated as areas of special risk or surveillance, meaning that all of the chooks there are on lockdown.

The Region of Murcia has ordered a poultry lockdown in 11 municipalities including Fortuna, Lorquí, Molina de Segura, Santomera, Cartagena, Mazarrón, San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier, Los Alcázares and Torre Pacheco.

Nationwide, 1,199 municipalities are now under these restrictions. No cases have been detected in Murcia yet, thankfully, but they’re not taking any chances.

The good news (if you can call it that) is that chicken meat prices have only risen 3.6% year on year, which is about the norm when you look at food inflation in general.

Spain produces 1.7 million tonnes of chicken meat annually from farms with around 600 million birds. Most of these operations already keep their chickens in closed facilities that are less vulnerable to outbreaks. When disease does strike, the impact gets diluted across such enormous numbers. Plus, the short life cycle of meat chickens of just six to eight weeks also means flocks can be replenished relatively quickly.

Avianca, the interprofessional poultry organisation, insists there’s no meat shortage, so at least the Sunday roast is still on the cards.

This current wave of bird flu began in late 2020 and is considered the worst in history. Worldwide, more than 311 million birds have been killed either by the disease or through preventive culling. Europe has lost around 50 million birds. It’s an absolutely staggering scale of destruction.

This, of course, is absolutely tragic, but the epidemic is taking on a whole new meaning now since it’s directly impacting the average household. Eggs have long been considered an affordable protein source, something you could always rely on for a quick meal when money’s tight. Now they’re becoming a luxury item in some households.

But what can we do about it? Not much, I’m afraid. Stock up if you find a decent price, I suppose, though that feels a bit selfish when everyone’s in the same boat. The reality is we’re just going to have to grin and bear it until this outbreak subsides. The question is how long that will take. This particular strain has been circulating for four years now with no sign of letting up, and winter weather only looks set to make things worse.

Black Friday deals are starting already – two weeks before the actual date!

Remember when Black Friday was just one day? Those innocent times when it actually happened on a Friday, people trampled each other to swarm into stores for the best deals, and then it was all blessedly over by Saturday morning? Those days are long gone. Black Friday has morphed into what can only be described as Black November at this stage, with retailers launching their “exclusive early deals” weeks before the actual date.

It’s become a shopping marathon rather than a sprint and with the price of everything going through the roof, most of us won’t complain about the opportunity to bag a bargain. (Not eggs, though, unfortunately.)

Pencil in Friday November 28 if you want the official Black Friday experience, but seasoned bargain hunters know the sales actually kick off days earlier. Most fashion brands now launch their promotional campaigns in the run up to the big day, extending the discounts all the way through to Cyber Monday the following week.

It’s essentially become a long weekend of shopping madness, which is perfect timing if you’re looking to get ahead on Christmas shopping without breaking the bank.

Based on 2024’s offers, this year we can expect to see discounts ranging anywhere from a modest 10% right up to a must-grab 70% off across product ranges.

Tech giants like Amazon, MediaMarkt and PcComponentes will naturally be in the thick of it, but fashion lovers have plenty to look forward to as well. Heavy hitters including Zara, El Corte Inglés and Mango are all preparing their discount strategies to tempt shoppers both online and in store.

Fast fashion powerhouse H&M typically gets the ball rolling on the Thursday evening. If past years are anything to go by, 2025 should follow the same pattern, with discounts of 20% to 50% on on-trend clothes, accessories and wardrobe basics. There’s an added bonus for customers who’ve downloaded the app or signed up to the loyalty programme, since they usually get access to extra perks.

Mango takes a slightly different approach. The Catalan brand tends to be more selective with its sales, focusing discounts on specific lines rather than blanket reductions. In previous years, Mango has offered between 30% and 40% off both in store and online, generally from Thursday evening as well.

Department store giant El Corte Inglés, which houses both its own brands and international labels under one massive roof, traditionally launches its Black Friday campaign on the Friday itself, although some early discounts often creep in from Wednesday or Thursday.

Other major high street names including Zara, Stradivarius and Bershka also join the party, typically starting on Thursday evening. Savvy shoppers can get stuck into Zara’s deals from November 27 through the mobile app and website, but physical stores will generally hold off until Black Friday proper on November 28.

All the major Inditex brands are singing from the same hymn sheet for Black Friday 2025, launching their online sales at 8pm on the Thursday. This includes Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Oysho and Zara Home.

Talking of cheap shopping, EU member states have just agreed to abolish customs duty exemptions for online purchases worth less than €150 from non-EU countries, effectively marking the end of dirt-cheap purchases from Asian platforms such as Shein, Temu and AliExpress.

The change will apply tariffs to all imported goods regardless of their price, with the aim of curbing the surge of low-value parcels arriving mainly from China. Although the full reform is scheduled for 2028, countries may begin collecting duties from early 2026, and some, including Romania, have already unilaterally introduced their own fees.

The decision follows a sharp rise in low-value shipments, which have more than tripled in the last two years, driven largely by the rapid expansion of Chinese online retailers. Brussels argues that the current system strains customs authorities, increases the risk of counterfeit or unsafe products entering the EU and creates unfair competition for European manufacturers who must meet EU standards and pay import duties.

Removing the threshold will, according to Danish Finance Minister Stephanie Lose, establish fairer conditions between European businesses and non-EU sellers sending goods directly to consumers. Alongside the reform, the European Commission has proposed an additional €2 handling fee for each parcel processed at EU customs, which could also be introduced in 2026.

So, if you’re local to Murcia and fancy doing some in-person shopping rather than buying online from China, Parque Almenara in Lorca is getting in on the action early as well. Carrefour Lorca Almenara was offering VAT savings on thousands of items only until November 11 so that ship may have sailed, but RKS at the same shopping centre is running amazing discounts on stylish new footwear for autumn.

With more than 160 shops, 10 cinemas, a bowling alley and plenty of cafés and restaurants, it’s not a bad spot to while away an afternoon even if you don’t buy anything. Though let’s be honest, that’s unlikely!

For those of you over in Mazarrón, TJ Electricals/Euronics in Camposol’s Sector B Commercial Centre is pulling out all the stops with some proper bargains on home appliances.

For example, they’ve got a Bosch fridge freezer for €680, a Candy fan assisted oven for €239, a Beko 10kg washing machine for €399 and a JVC 43 inch 4K Smart TV for €225. All with fast, free delivery to your local area, full installation and removal of your old appliance at no extra cost. That’s the sort of service you just don’t get clicking around Amazon at midnight in your pyjamas.

The beauty of Black Friday stretching out over two weeks is that you can actually plan your purchases rather than panic buying in a frenzy, and getting squashed as flat as a pancake on a Primark floor. Take your time, compare prices, check reviews and don’t feel pressured into buying something just because it’s got a red ‘sale’ sticker slapped on it.

Some retailers hike up the prices beforehand only to “discount” them back to normal, of course, but now most consumers are savvy to those sorts of tricks. Having said that, there are genuine bargains to be had if you know where to look and with Christmas lurking around the corner, now’s as good a time as any to tick a few names off that gift list.

Murcia

It’s that time of year again… no, not Black Friday. It’s time for the sonic booms.

If you live anywhere near southern or central Murcia, southern Alicante or eastern Almería, you’ll be familiar with the usual explosion sounds that burst through the skies every time the Air Force jets break the sound barrier. Now they’re back with another round of Tactical Leadership Programme flights, this time running from November 17 to 27.

As usual, these supersonic exercises, based out of Albacete Air Base, will see pilots breaking the sound barrier between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on weekdays starting from next Monday. The bangs always make a few people jump if they’re not prepared or expecting them, and every single time there are worried calls to 112 to report a bomb blast or earthquake or something. Not saying that couldn’t happen, but if you do hear and explosion next week, look up to the sky for jets passing overhead before you pick up the phone to call the emergency services.

While we’ve got all that to look forward to, we’re still buzzing from the great time we had last weekend at the European Senior Masters golf tournament  at La Manga Club. There were some big names present: several Ryder Cup legends, accompanied by Scottish football icons Sir Kenny Dalglish and Gordon Strachan OBE, as announced. And BBC News presenter Naga Munchetty made an unexpected appearance, which was nice.

The food, drink and entertainment at the barbecue were all great, of course, but everyone agreed that the golf on display was some of the most thrilling play we’d seen for a long time, with eventual winner Jamie Donaldson sealing victory with a birdie on the 18th hole, one of the most dramatic finishes in Legends Tour history. And the weather was glorious for the occasion, which really helped!

This is one of the bigger golf competitions in Murcia, with big sponsors like Coca-Cola and global coverage on Sky Sports Golf and other outlets. This tournament is really starting to put Murcia on the map as a premier sporting destination known around the world, and Murcia Today is proud to be one of the sponsors (if you didn’t already know!) We’re already looking forward to another great edition come 2026!

Elsewhere, La Manga del Mar Menor itself is facing some big decisions about its future. Around 80% of the area within San Javier’s part of the strip – the northern bit – is already developed, and now the local council is trying to work out how much more the narrow stretch of land can handle.

Apparently, there’s still room for up to 20,000 new homes if every undeveloped plot is built on, but San Javier mayor José Miguel Luengo wants to prioritise projects that boost tourism rather than just adding more apartment blocks. With traffic and parking already major headaches during summer, the council has hired a company to carry out a €50,000 study into infrastructure, utilities and transport capacity before any new construction is approved. More parking and better roads, please, before shoving in more tourist rental apartment blocks!

At the Mar Menor, volunteers, divers and local charity organisations are planning to descend on the Menhir del Rame area of Bahía Bella this Saturday morning to collect years’ worth of rubbish washed in by floods and runoff. The operation, backed by both local councils and regional environmental bodies, will see teams scouring beaches and the seabed, even using underwater metal detectors for the first time. Even the military are lending their support! This promises to be a real community effort, and volunteers will be rewarded with a communal paella after all their hard work! If you want to join in, you can sign up here: https://forms.gle/wkn2g5C4K9mJQiqy5

Talking of cleaning up, Spain’s Ministry of Labour has turned its eye to Amazon’s logistics centre in Corvera. They are carrying out work inspections following claims of excessive working hours and tough conditions (allegations Amazon firmly denies, it should be added). Around 2,000 people are employed at Amazon’s Murcia sites, and local unions say the checks are overdue. And if their concerns are not addressed… they’ve warned that possible strike action could disrupt the busy run-up to Christmas.

And lastly, in the realm of law enforcement, the Guardia Civil has made progress on two major fronts. Officers have broken up a gang responsible for around 50 burglaries across Murcia and Alicante, following a months-long investigation that led to arrests after a high-speed chase in Lorca.

And, down in Mazarrón, a quick update for you on the double murder of two Ecuadorian men in Camposol, where the two suspects who have for now been charged have been named as Carlos Andrés A.M. (nicknamed ‘Poli’) and Bayron Alexis S.A. (known as ‘Nike’). Police have also revealed that a third accomplice is still being hunted as they continue to piece together the details of this gruesome crime, the most shocking in the Camposol community since the brutal murder of a British woman at the hands of her partner in December 2022 and the Belgian paedophile who was convicted in 2024.

On a lighter note, if you’re looking for something to do this weekend to take your mind off all that, you’ve got a cheese and wine route in Pilar de la Horadada, a welcome variation on the typical tapas route; plus it’s the opening weekend of the local fiestas in Lorca and San Javier, with all the fun, food and festivities that obviously entails; or you can board the ever-popular ship the Galeón Andalucía when it docks in Puerto de Mazarrón this weekend.

As always, you can go to the EVENTS DIARY on our website for more events and activities coming up soon in the Region of Murcia:

Spain

I don’t know about you, but Spain feels a whole lot busier than it did even a few years ago. Turns out there’s a good reason for that. The country’s population has reached a record breaking 49,442,844 people after growing by 105,488 in the third quarter of 2025.

These figures, released by the National Institute of Statistics this week, confirm that the country has more residents than ever before.

The record rise has been fuelled almost entirely by people born outside Spain. Over the past year, the population has grown by 474,454, even as the number of Spain-born residents continues to fall.

There are now around 9.8 million people living in Spain who were born abroad, which means roughly 19.9% of the population is foreign born. Of these, nearly three million have since taken Spanish nationality, while the rest make up a growing community of more than 7.1 million foreign residents.

The most common newcomers were from Colombia, Spain’s largest source of new arrivals, with 32,100 Colombians choosing to make the country their home. They were followed by Spaniards returning from abroad at 24,500, Moroccans at 23,400, Venezuelans at 20,500 and Peruvians at 16,000. Italians, Algerians, Argentinians, Ukrainians and Romanians also featured strongly in the statistics.

What might come as a surprise is that the British no longer feature among the top nationalities, partly because quite a few long-term residents have taken Spanish nationality since Brexit, but also because the community is growing more slowly than others. In addition, most newcomers to Spain are younger people arriving for work or to start a new life, rather than retirees like many of the British who settled here years ago.

Every autonomous community across Spain saw its population increase during the third quarter of 2025, as did the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The largest rises were recorded in the Valencian Community at 0.40%, Aragón at 0.36% and Castilla-La Mancha at 0.34%.

All of which brings us rather neatly to the housing crisis, because where exactly are all these people supposed to live? Here’s a scary number for you. Ten years ago, if you wanted to buy a property in Spain, you’d need a mortgage of around €100,000. This August, that figure hit nearly €170,000.

That’s a 63% jump and in some places it’s even worse. Madrid and Andalucía have seen increases of more than 70%, with the average mortgage in the capital now sitting at a staggering €276,158.

Part of the problem is us, I’m afraid to say. Well, not us specifically, but foreign buyers in general. British, Moroccan and German buyers are snapping up nearly one in five homes sold in Spain, which naturally pushes prices up for everyone else.

Last year alone, more than 71,000 properties went to international buyers. When you’ve got that much foreign money competing for the same houses, especially in hotspots like the Costa del Sol, locals simply can’t compete. Property prices per square metre have more than doubled over the last decade in some areas.

The knock-on effect is that younger Spanish buyers are being completely priced out of the market. They can’t get over what’s being called the mortgage hurdle, so they’re stuck renting instead, which of course drives up rental prices as well. It’s not just Madrid either. Valencia has seen mortgages climb 74%, the Balearics are up 70% and even Murcia and the Canaries have experienced sharp rises, though slightly less dramatic.

It’s a bit of a vicious circle, isn’t it? More people want to live in Spain, which drives up demand for housing, which pushes up prices, which means higher mortgages, which prices out locals and younger buyers, which leads to more rental demand, which pushes up rents as well. And round and round we go.

The Spanish government keeps talking about building more affordable housing, but the construction sector can barely keep pace with the current population growth, never mind catch up with years of underbuilding.

Meanwhile, those of us who bought property here years ago are sitting on assets that have appreciated nicely, thank you very much, but our children and grandchildren are looking at a very different housing market to the one we enjoyed. It’s a sobering thought.

Alicante

Spain has just been catapulted into the top 20 countries worldwide most severely impacted by climate change in 2024, and we’ve got last October’s catastrophic DANA storm in Valencia to thank for that unwelcome distinction.

Research unveiled at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil this week puts us at number 20 and when you look at the last 30 years overall, Spain is sitting at 24th. Not exactly a league table you want to be climbing.

The Valencia disaster cost nearly €10 billion in economic damage and killed 237 people. Four hundred more were displaced and hundreds of thousands were left without water or electricity.

What’s even more disturbing is the fact that Spain and Chile are the only wealthy countries in that top 20 list. Everyone else is a developing nation like Dominica, Myanmar, Honduras and Chad. That tells you something quite damning about how prepared we were, doesn’t it?

Spain’s weather service issued proper warnings well in advance. They did their job perfectly. But somewhere between those warnings and the people who actually needed to hear them, the whole system fell apart. Local authorities simply didn’t pass the message on in time, so ordinary people had no idea what was coming.

The fallout from that mess up eventually forced Carlos Mazón to resign as Valencian Community president, exactly a year after the disaster. Took long enough, frankly.

Spain’s now pledged €35 million to climate funds, on top of another €45 million President Sánchez promised earlier this week. It’s a start, I suppose, but the report makes it pretty clear what’s needed.

Wealthier countries like ours need to help vulnerable nations deal with climate change, but we also need to get our own house in order when it comes to emergency response.

Right, on to something that’ll affect your daily commute, and definitely not in a good way. Those average speed cameras everyone’s been dreading are finally arriving in Alicante province, and they’re the proper sneaky kind that track you between two points rather than just catching you at one spot.

The DGT is installing three of them on the A-7 near Elche and the A-31 between Elda and Monforte del Cid. Some of the cameras are already up, which has been giving drivers the willies as they pass by.

The longest monitored stretch will be between Novelda and Elda-Petrer at 8.5 kilometres, which is a decent distance to maintain your speed. The other sections are 2.35 and 4.16 kilometres. They’re expecting everything to be fully operational sometime between now and early 2026, once all the testing and certification is done.

On top of that, there’ll be three standard fixed cameras going up on the N-340 through Elche, the CV-70 between Benidorm and La Nucia, and the CV-920 in Rojales.

Now for something infinitely more pleasant. Tomorrow night, Saturday November 15, Zenia Boulevard is switching on its Christmas lights with a proper show, and it sounds absolutely lovely.

They’re calling it the Christmas Circus and it’s one of those spectacles that works brilliantly whether you’re six or sixty. Starts at 7pm in the Central Plaza, completely free and you don’t need to speak Spanish to enjoy it because it’s all visual magic, music and acrobatics.

We won’t give too much away, but the big light switch-on will form part of the show and the audience will be part of lighting the enormous Christmas tree. Then there’s a grand parade through the shopping centre with music and dancing, and the first 500 people through the door get free hot chocolate and cakes.

If you’re looking for a proper kickstart to the Christmas season without spending a penny, this is exactly the ticket. Gets you in the mood, the kids will love it and you might even score some free cake if you turn up early enough.

For other events and activities happening in the area, check out the What’s On page of Alicante Today or join the Costa Blanca What’s On and Where to Go Facebook group

Andalucía

Talking of Christmas lights still (is it too early?!), the town of Estepa in Sevilla made headlines in Spain this week by becoming the first town in the country to light its Christmas decorations this year, ahead of usual frontrunner Vigo, up in Galicia.

Switching on their lights on Friday November 7, Estepa brought sparkle to the town with over a million LEDs, hoping to boost local businesses tied to its famous festive mantecados and polvorones. Yeesh, that’s even earlier than the Black Friday nonsense began!

Vigo is ready to respond with a spectacular musical-themed display starting Saturday November 15, but for now, Estepa holds the crown for the earliest Christmas glow in the country. You can bet that this will just mean that Vigo – always keen to hold the crown for earliest and most bombastic Crimbo lights – will just be even earlier next year. Taking bets on September.

Also near Seville this week, in Isla Mayor, a large anti-drug operation turned violent when suspected traffickers opened fire on police officers, leaving one seriously injured. Described by officers as “practically an execution”, the shootout followed the seizure of over four and a half tonnes of hashish.

The ongoing investigation uncovered a vessel carrying nearly 3.8 tonnes of the drug along the Guadalquivir canals, with some suspects escaping by diving into the water.

Police unions have called for better resources and protection, highlighting years of neglect and underfunding in law enforcement, while the search for those on the run continues. The operation coincides with wider anti-drug efforts across Andalucía.

In Cádiz, for instance, authorities recently seized over 16,000 litres of fuel and five boats used to keep high-speed smuggling vessels running, arresting three people linked to these illegal activities. This disruption of fuel supply networks is crucial to curbing drug traffickers’ operations along the coast.

In Almería, courts upheld convictions related to an attempted hashish smuggling case where over 2,000 kilos were involved. The ship’s captain and accomplice received prison sentences and heavy fines, marking another step in dismantling organised crime in the region.

On a quieter but deeply felt note, a 57-year-old British sadly cyclist died while riding along the N-340 near Almuñécar in Granada. The man, who was staying nearby in Nerja, seemingly suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while cycling towards La Herradura.

When paramedics arrived at the scene, a passing doctor had already begun CPR, but despite their sustained efforts for over 30 minutes, they were unable to save his life. The incident has unsettled the local cycling community, who often visit this attractive climate-rich area for its coastal and mountain routes.

But, to end on a slightly jollier note, Málaga Airport is setting new records this winter. For the first time outside the peak season, the airport is offering over 10 million seats on its planes, linking Málaga with 118 cities across 34 countries. Flights to the UK continue to surge, with London routes alone up more than 10%.

But it’s not just the UK; Málaga is expanding its reach across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, firmly establishing itself as a major winter travel hub. With nearly 60,000 flight movements expected by late March, travellers have a wealth of options.

Whether you’re booking a city break across the continent, chasing the adventure of the northern lights or simply heading home for a properly brewed British cup of tea and a mince pie, Málaga Airport is making it easier than ever to get where you want to go this winter.

But if you’re planning to stay around in Málaga city this festive season, you’re in for a real treat as the provincial capital is lighting up earlier than ever with its famous Christmas displays.

Málaga plans to switch on its Christmas lights on Friday November 28, featuring the new design ‘Nativity of Light’ for the iconic Calle Larios decorations. Thousands of energy-efficient LED stars will illuminate the street, creating a magical canopy inspired by Gothic stained glass and scenes from the Nativity.

This year, the usual celestial angels are being replaced by this fresh theme that blends traditional festive spirit with modern technology. The light shows will run daily, except Christmas and New Year’s Eve, three times each evening, offering a captivating mix of music and choreography. promise a magical blend of technology and tradition.

What, too much Christmas, too early?

You may have missed…

1. Jet2 unveils 11 new flights between Spain and the UK.
   Budget British airline Jet2.com has announced the opening of a new base at London Gatwick Airport in 2026. This will be its 14th hub in the UK and will connect to 11 Spanish airports from March next year, coinciding with the start of the summer season.
2. Murcia football teams compete against the big boys in the Copa del Rey.
   Three Murcia football clubs are taking on the big-league teams in the next round of the Spanish Cup!
3. No, the solar storm in Europe will barely affect internet and phones in Spain, say experts.
   The European Space Agency has warned that a “severe” solar storm has already partially hit us, the experts say that Spain will hardly notice it.
4. Illicit tobacco use doubles in Spain as price hikes push smokers to seek cheaper alternatives.
   New data has revealed that non-domestic tobacco now accounts for over 10% of consumption, driven by Spain’s tax rises and nearby markets with lower prices, especially Gibraltar.
5. Spanish wages fall €6k lower than EU average.
   The pay in Spain has never exactly been great compared to what people are used to earning in the UK, but this has always been offset by the cheap cost of living. However, with prices climbing month after month, Spain is falling further and further behind the rest of Europe in term of wages.

And that’s all we’ve got for another week. Thank you, as ever, for reading all the way to the end. See you for another edition next week!

’Til then!