Are you keeping an eye on the household budget? New figures from the Banco de España show how spending habits in Spain are shifting.
The latest Financial Survey of Households looks at income, savings and day-to-day spending. One of the headline points is that people are spending less on food, but more on vehicles.
Food spending drops
The median annual spend on food fell to €6,000 in 2024. That is down 6.3% compared to 2022, when households were spending around €6,400.
The drop is more noticeable in lower-income households, younger people and those aged between 65 and 74. Both employees and self-employed workers also reduced their food spending.
At the other end of the scale, some higher-income households actually increased what they spend on groceries.
Cars take a bigger share
Spending on cars and other vehicles moved in the opposite direction. The median spend rose to €7,300, an increase of 10.6%.
More households are also buying vehicles. Around 15% of households made this kind of purchase in 2024, up from 13.2% in 2022.
The biggest increases were seen in middle-income households and those under 55.
Other everyday spending
Spending on other day-to-day items, such as utilities, holidays, clothing and medical costs, also dipped slightly. The median figure fell from €7,500 to €7,200.
Again, the picture is mixed. Some groups, particularly middle and higher-income households, actually increased spending in these areas.
Furniture and home items
More households bought durable goods like furniture, with 55.4% making this type of purchase in 2024. However, the typical amount spent dropped slightly, from €1,100 to €1,000.
What it means
Overall, the figures suggest households are adjusting how they spend rather than cutting back across the board.
Less money is going on food and some everyday items, while bigger purchases like cars are taking up more of the budget. As always, the reality depends a lot on income, age and personal circumstances.
