Half of food products in Spain become more expensive despite price caps: consumer group

STORY: Half of food products in Spain become more expensive despite price caps: consumer group DATELINE: Sept. 30, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:41 LOCATION: Madrid CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of markets and food chain in Spain 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General of Facua-Consumers in Action 3. various of markets and food chain in Spain 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General of Facua-Consumers in Action STORYLINE: Almost half (48.9 percent) of the food products in Spain that are subject to the government's sales tax reduction measures became more expensive in September, according to Facua-Consumers in Action, one of Spain's main consumer associations. After analyzing the prices of 962 food products in eight of the largest supermarket chains in Spain: Alcampo, Aldi, Carrefour, Dia, Eroski, Lidl, Hipercor and Mercadona, the association found that the prices of 470 products had gone up since the start of the inflation reduction measures at the beginning of the ye

Consumers in Spain welcome price freeze on food products

STORY: Consumers in Spain welcome price freeze on food products DATELINE: Jan. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:23 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of customers shopping in a market in Barcelona 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General of FACUA 3. various of a supermarket in Barcelona STORYLINE: Consumers' associations in Spain have welcomed the government-decreed price freeze on certain food products, such as bread, milk and oil, for at least the next four months, but they also argue that the authorities must ensure shops comply with the ruling. The reduction on sales tax came into force on Jan. 1. The Minister of Economic Affairs Nadia Calvino said this week that consumers will begin feeling the effect of the reduction on their monthly shopping bills. According to a survey of the main supermarkets in Spain by the Association of Financial Users (Asufin), shopping bills have fallen 10 percent since the measure began. The Spanish consumer organization FACUA points o

Spain's consumer organizations call for gov't price control

STORY: Spain's consumer organizations call for gov't price control DATELINE: Oct. 15, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:35 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a supermarket in Barcelona 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General of Facua-Consumers in Action 3. various of a supermarket and food products 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): ILEANA IZVERNICEANU, Director of Communication and Institutional Relations at OCU 5. various of a gas station with fuel prices and a boiler at a home STORYLINE: Spain's main consumer organizations have called for price control by the Spanish government, warning that recent price hikes have still not peaked. Consumers in Action (FACUA) is calling on the Spanish authorities to step in and control prices to ensure companies are not taking advantage of consumers. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General of Consumers in Action (FACUA) "It's fundamental that the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in coordination with the autonomous regions devel

Spain reduces sales tax on gas to 5 pct

STORY: Spain reduces sales tax on gas to 5 pct DATELINE: Sept. 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:17 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: SOCIETY/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a gas cooker and a consumer with a gas bill 2. various of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez 3. various of tanks and facilities of gas companies 4. SOUNDBITE (Spanish): RUBEN SANCHEZ, Secretary-General, Spanish consumer association Consumers in Action (FACUA) 5. various of gas tanks in port and ships carrying gas STORYLINE: Spanish government decided to reduce the sales tax on gas from 21 to 5 percent. According to authorities, the anti-inflation measure will come into effect in October and will be in force until December 31, and could be extended into 2023. According to Spain's two largest consumer rights organizations, Consumers in Action (FACUA) and Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), depending on the type of contract and the level of gas consumption, many households could experience monthly savings of between 5 and 19 euros. Ac