Costs soar

This surge comes after a period of declining inflation and positions Murcia among the highest inflation rates in Spain. The increase isn’t limited to just food; leisure and fuel costs have also played their part in driving up consumer spending. The Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE) data highlights the factors behind this trend.

Notably, food expenses jumped 10.6 per cent yearon ­ year, in contrast to previous months of minor declines. This increase is pronounced in categories like fresh fruit, meat, sugar, and oils, with producers anticipating a sustained rise. The Region’s inflation also exceeded the national average of 2.3 per cent, despite adjusting for the ‘step effect’ of the previous year’s peak.

The good news is that the drop in electricity and gas prices remains unchanged.