In Spain

se alquila

Fedea reports: lower classes bear the brunt of government rent caps

The Spanish Government is currently seeking to ratify a Royal Decree in Congress that would extend rent controls for two years and cap annual increases at 2%. This decree, championed by Sumar—the more left-wing partner of the coalition—faces a difficult path to approval. Consequently, the PSOE has moved to process it separately to prevent Parliament from voting it down alongside other measures designed to mitigate the effects of the conflict…


Turismo españa granada

Spanish tourism sector ends Q1 2026 with real growth of 2.1%, compared with 2.5% estimated, and despite war in Iran

Alphavalue/ Divacons | The Spanish tourism sector closed Q1 2026 with real growth of 2.1%. Although this figure is below the 2.5% estimated for the national economy as a whole, the period stands out for the strength of foreign demand. This progress has been achieved despite operational volatility and the uncertainty generated by the conflict in the Middle East.


xijinping pedro

Pedro Sánchez visits Xi Jinping once again

For the fourth time, the Spanish Prime Minister is travelling to Beijing amidst the ongoing clash with the U.S. over the war in Iran. The goal of the trip is to open the Chinese market to new sectors, attract investment to Spain, and mitigate a €40-billion trade deficit. The work agenda, which begins today and runs through Wednesday, includes meetings with the Chinese government, business leaders, and investors. “China is…


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Spanish households’ net wealth rises by 11% in 2025 and debt-to-GDP ratio falls to its lowest level since 1999

CdM | Household net financial wealth stood at €2.645 trillion (156.8% of GDP) at the end of 2025, representing an 11% year-on-year increase, according to the ‘Financial Accounts of the Spanish Economy’ published by the Bank of Spain. Meanwhile, household debt rose to €723 billion, up from €696 billion in 2024. However, in relative terms to GDP, it fell to 42.8%, the lowest level since the end of 1999. As…


Solar power in Spain to get investments of €70 bn

Renewables arbitration awards threaten Spain at World Cup

The legal battle arising from the withdrawal of renewable energy subsidies is crossing paths with the Spanish national team’s journey to the next FIFA World Cup. Several investors holding favorable arbitration awards have set their sights on the competition—to be held this coming June and July across the United States, Mexico, and Canada—to ramp up pressure on Spain and seek payment of their respective compensations. Creditors have conducted a meticulous…


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House prices—sale and rent—through the roof: average purchase price now €3,014 per square metre

Alphavalue/Divacons | According to the latest data from Fotocasa, house prices for sale and to let have peaked simultaneously. The average purchase price now stands at €3,014 per square metre, driven by year-on-year growth of 21%. By region, pressure is highest in the Balearic Islands, Madrid, the Canary Islands, the Valencian Community and Andalusia, where all previous price records have been broken. Meanwhile, the Confederation of Tenants’ Unions announced yesterday…


taxes

Income Tax Season Begins Without “Deflating” Brackets: 25% Increase Since 2018

The income tax declaration season has begun without adjusting for inflation (deflating tax brackets), which translates to paying 25% more than in 2018. Direct taxes—Personal Income Tax (IRPF) and Wealth Tax—paid by families in Spain have increased by 56.3% since 2018. This is equivalent to a 31.1% increase in real terms (after removing the effect of inflation). Consequently, each household pays €1,657 more than six years ago—a 25% increase once…


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Government changes a third of rolled-over budget with almost no Congressional oversight

The Government spent half of 2025 arguing that a new budget was not necessary because “the 2023 accounts—approved in 2022, during the previous legislature—are good for the economy,” in the words of President Pedro Sánchez. However, throughout the year, a large part of that rollover was modified, creating a practically new budget. Furthermore, the bulk of it was done without going through Congress. This is according to data from the…


Tourism

Employment rises, unemployment falls due to Holy Week, but 141,000 jobs lost on March 31st

Boosted by the start of Holy Week (Semana Santa), hiring grew in March compared to both February and March 2025, when the holiday period took place later in April. Consequently, unemployment fell by 22,934 people in March, a decrease of 0.94%. However, this required the signing of 1,311,000 contracts. Of these, nearly 577,000 were permanent contracts (contratos indefinidos). If they were truly permanent—and not just in name only—unemployment would be…


espana lupa

Tax revenue up by more than 10% in 2025, public deficit down to 2.2%

In 2025, the Spanish State collected €142.4 billio through Personal Income Tax (IRPF), a 10% increase compared to the previous year. This was largely due to the Government’s refusal to index tax brackets (deflate the rates) to mitigate the increase in tax pressure caused by inflation. This is known as “fiscal drag” (or “cold progression”): salaries rise in line with inflation, but because tax brackets remain unchanged, more is collected…