Until a few years ago, it was very common for Menorcan families to take the plane or boat to go to Palma or Barcelona to buy clothes. The large chains and franchises had not yet landed on the island and it was more economical to travel to buy clothes on the Peninsula or on the neighboring island than to buy them directly from small shops in Menorca.

Diego is 34 years old and works as a photographer. He earns around €1,300 in 12 payments and, after eight years with the company, is still on an assistant contract. "I've gotten used to precariousness," he says. His salary allows him to cover his bills, but it doesn't leave him any room for error. Any unexpected expense—a special assessment, a repair, or equipment failure—forces him to take out a loan or ask his mother for help. It's not a temporary situation, but a stable way of life.

In the luxury housing market, the Balearic Islands have established themselves as the leading destination for the most exclusive areas in Spain. According to the latest data from Idealista's price report, six of the ten most expensive districts for buying property are located in the Mediterranean archipelago, while Madrid, Gipuzkoa, and Malaga account for the rest. The Madrid district of Salamanca tops the ranking with an average price of €9,950/m², reaching its highest level since 2006, following a year-on-year increase of 15.1% in November. In the Balearic Islands, Costa d'en Blanes (Calvià) occupies second place with €9,677/m² and an annual growth of 16.7%, a figure that marks a record for resale property prices. Puerto de Andratx completes the Balearic podium with €8,921/m², showing some stability compared to its historical highs. Other notable increases were recorded in Chamberí (Madrid), with a 21.2% rise to €8,695/m², and in Zagaleta-El Madroñal (Benahavís, Málaga), with a 20.7% increase, the highest in the month-on-month ranking at 7.94%. The Centro and Miraconcha areas in San Sebastián also reached new all-time highs at €8,571/m², as did the Jesús district in Santa Eulària des Riu (Ibiza) at €8,353/m². In the Balearic Islands, other luxury areas maintain high prices: Son Vida (Palma) at €8,587/m², Portals Nous-Bendinat (Calvià) at €8,358/m², and Cas Català-Illetes (Calvià) at €7,989/m². International demand continues to drive prices in these locations, consolidating the Balearic Islands as the leading region for luxury housing and further distancing the markets of Madrid, Málaga, and Gipuzkoa in this residential segment.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) will drop to 2.2% in the Balearic Islands in February in year-on-year terms, two tenths per month of the year-on-year rate of the previous month, according to the definitive data published here by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The Balearic Islands have set a new record for prices. The islands, which have seen year-on-year increases in the cost of basic necessities like housing (both rental and purchase) and groceries over the past decade, have also become the most expensive places in Spain to have a set lunch menu (a common option for workers and residents).

The Balearic Islands have reaffirmed their position as the most expensive area to purchase a second-hand home, surpassing €5,000/m² on average, following a 12.3% annual increase in August, with as many as 25 municipalities reaching record prices for existing homes.

The bill for a restaurant in Mallorca has gone viral on social media. The reason: the total amount paid by customers: €63,237.90. It's the Annabel restaurant, located on the Paseo del Mar in Palmanova (Calvià), and the restaurant itself made the bill public. on her Instagram profile, where it asks, "Whose bill is that?" It also encourages users to tag any of the people who were part of that dinner: "Please tag them below, we'd like to talk..."

Housing speculation continues unabated in Mallorca; on the contrary, prices are rising day after day. For the first time, the price per square meter surpassed the €5,000 mark.

Sales at cafes and restaurants on the Canary Islands have fallen by between 20% and 30% in the first six months of the year, according to data from business associations. "This is the worst year in quite some time," confirms Juanmi Ferrer, president of CAEBRestauració, who points out that one of the causes of the situation is the decline in consumption by tourists and residents, who have significantly reduced their visits to bars and restaurants "mainly due to the price."

A man has taken to social media to denounce the exorbitant prices he faces in Ibiza due to tourism.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) has revised the consumer price index (CPI) for June, placing it at 2.8% in the Balearic Islands, the highest rate in Spain, tied with that of the Basque Country. The state CPI rose to 2.3%, one-tenth higher than the figure reported two weeks ago and three-tenths higher than in May. Regarding food, inflation rose three-tenths to 2.8%.