Vehicle registrations up in January

Car registrations for January were 70,130 units, an increase of 18% over the same month last year. However, the January 2009 figure was very low at 59,385 units following a 41% drop in registrations.

Proposal to increase retirement age

Hot on the heels of a report showing that, before too long, almost 32% of the population of Spain will be aged over 64 years, the Government is putting forward a proposal to amend the retirement age. The current retirement age is 65 years.

TUR electricity price to rise as from January 1st

The electricity tariff TUR (Tariff of last resort), the only one set by the government and affecting 22.7 million homes and small businesses, is set to rise by 2.64% as from January 1st 2010. This will mean an increase in the monthly bill of the average user (consuming 293 kilowatts per year) of around €0.89.

IVA rates set to rise

The Spanish Cabinet has approved the Government proposals to increase IVA (VAT) rates, remove the €400 income tax rebate and increase taxation on savings income as part of the State Budget.

Union membership on the increase

Trades Unions are seeing an increase in their membership as many workers seek to safeguard their employment or see this as beneficial should things go wrong.