Airbnb brings female entrepreneurs to Mobile World Congress
Womenup project launched to support women in the technology sector
Business
Business & economic news from Barcelona and Catalonia
Lowest end-of-year jobless rate since 2008
2017 ended with 479,200 unemployed people, with the rate dropping to 12.6%
Barcelona consolidates its position as start up hub
The mobile app sector accounts for 55% of the startups in the Catalan capital
Creation of new companies decreases in last quarter of 2017
Nearly 4,000 businesses set up in last three months of year, 18% less than 2016
Barcelona, eighth city with the highest reputation in the world
Catalan capital is among the top 10 cities with the most foreign investment projects in the past four years
Cruise passengers spent over €500 per person in 2016
An increase of 20% compared to 2014, with trend expected to continue in future
Three in four small and medium companies unaffected by political crisis
2017 was “good year” according to industry association
Barcelona Port welcomed more than 2.7m cruise passengers in 2017
14k meters squared of the maritime institution will also be freed up for public use
Catalan exports rise foreseeing best year on record
Companies sell goods abroad for the value of €65,374 billion from January to November, 8.9% more than the previous year
Rent in Catalonia increases by 10.3% in 2017
Barcelona most expensive place to live, averaging at €16 per square metre
“Clear recovery” in tourism industry, says official
International Tourism Trade Fair kicks off with Catalonia hopeful for future
Salaries unchanged despite three years of economic growth
Employees in Catalonia fourth best paid compared to rest of Spain with average gross salary of 23,037 euros per year
Barcelona airport closes 2017 with historic total of 47 million passengers
7.1% more people used the facility than 2016
Catalan economy to grow more than expected in first quarter of 2018
Fiscal body raises growth forecast for Catalonia’s GDP to 0.83%, with growth of Spanish economy to stay at 0.77%
Seat registers best results since 2001
Automobile manufacturer sees worldwide vehicle sales go up a record 14.6% in 2017
Read the latest updates and breaking news on business and economic matters from Barcelona and Catalonia here. Keep up to date with how the Catalan economy is performing, inflation levels, employment and unemployment, major business mergers, important company announcements, and the latest on Catalonia’s biggest enterprises such as Vueling, Wallbox, Grifols, Mango, and plenty of start-ups and international firms based here too.