Catalonia's inflation rate hits 4.5% in September, highest since February 2023

Inflation in Catalonia – as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – rose by 0.5 percentage points in September to 4.5% year-on-year, its highest level since February 2023, according to updated data released on Tuesday by Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE).

Across Spain, inflation was higher, reaching 4.9%, in line with the preliminary estimate published earlier this month.

Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile components, rose by 0.2 percentage points in both Catalonia and Spain, reaching 3% and 3.1%, respectively.

The INE identified higher prices for recreation, sport and culture, as well as transport, as the main drivers of inflation.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices in Catalonia rose by 0.1% in September compared with August, down from a 0.6% increase the previous month.

Across Spain, monthly inflation stood at 0.3%, four-tenths of a percentage point lower than in August.

Electricity, gas and other fuels recorded annual inflation of 13% in Catalonia in September, while the cost of using personal vehicles rose by 16.7%.

Food prices in Catalonia rose by 2.9% year on year in September, below the overall inflation rate of 4.5% but up from 2.4% in August.

Across Spain's autonomous communities, Catalonia had the fourth-lowest inflation rate in September.

Castile-La Mancha and Galicia recorded the highest rates, at 5.5%.