Inflation suffers a 4.3% increase in Spain, being the highest rate since 2023 as a consequence of the rise in fuel prices

Driven by the rising cost of fuels, prices in Spain increased by 4.3% in August, compared to the same month in 2025. This figure represents a rebound seven tenths higher than in July (3.6%) and places it as the highest rate since February 2023. The National Institute of Statistics (INE) published this Friday the advance data for the consumer price index (CPI) for this month of August, which has been marked by the rising cost of fuels for personal vehicles, unlike in 2025, where these products were cheaper.

In another fundamental aspect for people's lives, such as food, it has also had an influence, although on a smaller scale. The group of food and non-alcoholic beverages decreased less in this month of August than they did in the same month last year, although this is not exact since the INE will not offer detailed information until next September 15. However, an advance August figure foresees an acceleration of inflation, which had increased four tenths in July, to 3.6%, driven by the rising cost of energy products, as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East.

For its part, the Ministry of Economy relates this rebound in August prices to the rising cost of fuels, due to the Middle East war, therefore, it has not been transferred to existing inflation. The Ministry has also affirmed that the Government "maintains a minute-by-minute monitoring of the impact of the conflict in Iran on the Spanish economy."

During this month, fuels have been able to enjoy a discount on the hydrocarbon tax of 10 cents per liter, slightly lower than in July in line with the Conflict Response Plan. However, the rise in the price of diesel in July activated the safeguard clause, so as of September 1, the reduction in the hydrocarbon tax for this product will be 20 cents per liter, instead of the 5 cents planned for that month. According to this clause, if the price of any fuel rose more than 15% in June, its discount would rise to 20 cents per liter in August, and if it did so in July, the extended discount would apply in September. Based on this, it has been learned that this has happened for diesel, but not for gasoline, so its discount in September will be 5 cents, as planned.