After significant hikes experienced during the spring, prices in Granada are beginning to stabilize. The definitive data for the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May 2026, published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), shows an annual rate of 3.5%, one tenth lower than the previous month. This moderation is attributed, in part, to the stabilization of goods and services costs and the reduced impact of the conflict in the Middle East.
The cost of raw materials and products remained neutral in May (0% compared to the previous month), breaking the upward trend that began in February (+0.6%) and intensified in March and April (+1.3%). This stability is positive news for Granada households' finances. Granada thus joins Almería, Málaga, and Córdoba, provinces that also saw no price changes last month.
Despite the downward trend in monthly variation, Granada remains the Andalusian province with the highest annual price increase, reaching 3.5%. This situation of continuous cost of living increases has been ongoing for four years, coinciding with the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
The most significant increases in May were concentrated in alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+2.2%), followed by restaurants and hotels (+0.3%). On the other hand, clothing and footwear saw a 1% decrease before the winter sales, while transport (-0.4%) and housing (-0.2%) also registered declines. Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained stable.
At the regional level, the CPI in Andalusia fell to 3% year-on-year in May, two tenths lower than the previous month, and remained stable on a monthly basis. Nationally, the annual rate stood at 3.2%, remaining above 3% for the third consecutive month.
“"The evolution of inflation and the rising cost of living are causes for concern. It is urgent to dignify the remuneration of workers in the province through collective bargaining. The behavior of transport continues to push prices up, as a consequence of the ongoing geopolitical tensions."
The trade union representative from UGT Granada, Luis Miguel Gutiérrez, expressed his concern about the persistence of inflation and the need for wage improvements. He pointed out that the salary increases agreed upon to date (an average of 2.71% in Granada as of April 30, 2026) are insufficient given market uncertainty and the pressure of factors like transport costs. Gutiérrez advocates for a minimum salary increase reference of 4% for the 2026-2028 period.
