A troubling trend hits Alicante households hard once again, as national statistics reveal why local wallets feel the squeeze. The state now sits among the regions with the sharpest price rises over the past year, underscoring a period of persistent inflation that has touched family budgets across the area.
According to the Consumer Price Index for the year, published this Friday by the National Institute of Statistics, Alicante registers an inflation rate of 3.5%. This is four-tenths higher than the national average of 3.1%. Only Tenerife posts a higher rate at 4.3%, with Malaga and Albacete tied at 3.8% and Cordoba reporting 3.7%, higher than Alicante in the latest readings. These figures point to a mixed national picture, with some regions pulling ahead of others. (Source: INE)
Nevertheless, the data also mark a meaningful improvement from earlier in the year, when the CPI briefly peaked at 11 percent in the province during the summer and finished last year at 5.7%. The downturn is largely attributed to declines in energy and fuel costs, which collectively are now about 17.7% cheaper than a year ago. (Source: INE)
Specifically, electricity costs have fallen by more than 17%, natural gas by around 20%, and gasoline and diesel have also retreated by about 12.8%, underscoring a broader cooling of energy prices within the country. (Source: INE)
On the ground, the image for Alicante shoppers is nuanced. The central market and everyday groceries still feel the pressure of price gains, even as the overall national trend softens. Food prices in Alicante remain about 7.6% higher than a year earlier, a figure that sits above the national average of 7.3% and reflects persistent price pressures in the local market. (Source: INE)
Oil
INE does not break down each food category by province, but national data show oil as the standout item with a steep rise, alongside a general uplift in staples: legumes up about 13.2%, fresh fruits around 11.8%, and pork and other foods climbing roughly 12.3%. These movements paint a picture of broad food-price resilience despite some cooling elsewhere. (Source: INE)
Beyond groceries, other goods regularly bought in Alicante are also climbing faster than the national average. Clothing has risen by about 4.8% nationally, versus 1.9% overall, while footwear is up around 5.2% compared with 1.5% nationwide. Personal care products have rebounded by roughly 4.8% compared with a 3.3% national average. (Source: INE)
In this inflation environment, older residents appear to be better equipped to weather the slowdown in consumption. With a few pockets in the province showing stronger performance than the national pattern, segments such as alcoholic beverages have risen by 3.4%, which is two percentage points below the overall average, and hotel prices have cooled after a year of higher increases, ending the period around 6.8% for the year. (Source: INE)
Overall, the data hint at a transition phase. While inflation remains palpable, especially in food and daily goods, a gradual stabilization is taking hold across much of the country. For Alicante families, the message is clear: while prices still bite, the pace of increases has moderated from the peak years and energy savings have contributed to easing the burden. (Source: INE)