New year brings price increases across Spain

Spain already has seen prices rise so far in 2010, mainly in the transportation sector.

The high-speed AVE train linking Madrid to Seville and Barcelona, saw prices increase by an average of 4 percent. The price of medium-distance railway journeys went up by 5 percent, while short distance travel saw a 6-percent price increase.

Travel within some major cities also became more expensive. The cost of a 10-journey ticket in Madrid increased from 7.40 euros to 9 euros or 21.6 percent, meaning that metro prices have risen 109 percent since 2003.

Another more expensive item in the New Year was the postage stamp, which went from 32 to 34 cents per stamp.

Spanish consumers also will have to pay 2.64 percent more for electricity, while the price of natural gas remained unchanged. Butane gas, still common for use in cooking in many older homes, went up 3.36 percent to 11.06 euros per bottle.

Meanwhile, the minimum wage for Spanish workers increased 1.5 percent to 633.3 euros a month before taxes.