Galician families face rising costs of living and housing

Families in Galicia, Spain, are significantly altering their consumption habits due to rising costs of living and housing. According to data from the Galician Institute of Statistics (IGE), over 43% of households have switched to white-label brands or discounted products to save money, a figure that nearly doubled from 26.6% in the previous year.

Economic pressures have also led one in four households to reduce spending on common expenses such as clothing, footwear, transport, and electricity. Additionally, approximately 6.2% of households reported needing to seek financial assistance from friends or family. These shifts occur as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 5.5% in September, with housing and transport costs increasing by 11% and 12.1% respectively in the region.

Individual cases highlight the severity of the housing crisis, such as a family in Vigo facing potential displacement after their landlord decided to sell their long-term rental property. The family, which relies on social benefits, reports difficulty finding affordable alternatives as current market rates far exceed their existing monthly rent.