Certainly prices have increased a lot since the euro came to our lives.
Nevertheless I still think that union makes the power, and that Europe must be and remain as joined as possible in every aspect, including a common currency, in order to give a good answer against old and emerging economicla powers, like USA or China.
In the long term I really expect that the current inconveniences will be transformed into opportunities and success.

Hi!
In my opinion the salary has not been increased as the same of priced.
In this moment, one beer can be cost the same in England, Spain, Germany, France … but our salary is too slow, compared with the same job in another countries on European Union …
At the moment, the euro make us poorest than before, when we live with our dear “peseta” ;) ...
It is true, European Union must walk to a real convergence, but not only with currency, also salaries, political social like family assistance, health services, accessible flats and many other aspects that show that Spain, is not equiparated with many of rest European countries …
Bye!!

Certainly one of the reasons why I’m glad I’m moving to Australia…

Hi Paul and thanks a lot for this very interesting post. The figures are amazing but I just can’t avoid a couple of thoughts:
Do you really think European Union, and more concretely monetary union is responsible for this price explosion, or did the Spanish food sector shamefully take advantage of the Euro? Did any public administration tried to limit if not regulate this inflation? Did any consumer association implacably demand these scruples less vendors groups? Why nobody controlled or openly denounced what was an obvious possible effect of any currency conversion: abuse.
Eroski, Corte Ingles and Carrefour are surely the big winners but honestly, I remember that my local bakery started to increase the “baguette� price months before the end of the pesetas to be sure to make a substantial benefit and largely rounded up the price after the Euro change, as if these few cents were nothing relevant for us, and due to them. What can we think of such a miserable and avaricious attitude? So human, probably, auto destructive surely!
My last comment is about the place of Spain in the European family. Of course quotas are not very welcome, but think that others countries like France or Italy already went through this unpopular restrictions, when Spain was allowed to invade the market with cheap products (but I would never justify upset French cultivators burning trucks in the Spanish borders) and was one of the first beneficiaries of subsidies from the rest of the union. Spain grew up and is now a full part responsible “adult� who must contribute to maintain the rest of the family, especially new members, and in a way it is not a surprise in this context of maturity that Spanish prices (especially in Madrid) are comparable with the rest of the European capital. We can discuss about low salaries, unbelievable price of property but I am still thinking that these are local “vices� and are not linked to our membership to the union. We are responsible for the degradation of our life level, and it is in our hands changing this inside of the EU. I am convinced outside would be worst.
But are we ready to talk about solidarity and European feeling, when we are not sure to be European before being Spanish, Spanish before being Catalan, Gallego before being from A Coruña, or DE Sevilla before being DEL Betis… When will we understand that at the end of the day, who Care!? From Asia or USA, does it make any difference?

Now , the normal products are more expensive, the clothes, staple loods , transports, .....the paycheck are lower than with the euro.
Also, like positive, is easier travel than before.
I don’t tray and bring back the peseta becouse the situacion have changed. It don’t have justification, but is true that now there are more misery.

Don’t speak too loud, Paul. They’ll tax it!
What surprised me is that there was no referendum in Spain about getting rid of the peseta. Something as important, both economically and culturally, as a currency should be changed only with the explicit consent of the people.
I actually prefer the Euro because I like the idea of a United States of Europe. Nevertheless, big changes should be voted for one by one by the people who pay for them.
At the moment,Europe often makes some really stupid mistakes. We will never be a Superpower if we keep doing things like banning Welsh Dragon Sausages

Ok, let’s put things in perspective.
We have suffered a big hidden inflation, but in exchange, we are experiencing the longest sustained growth in the last century, along with a most desired stability.
When I was a child, peseta had to be devaluated by a 30%. Now that won’t happen anymore. Our economy is tied to the ones of our neighbours.
When we adopted euro, we decided to give up a piece of sovereignity for a purpose. European Union has its pros and cons.
Said that, I also think that the current political model for the union is depleted. If it fails to integrate UK, Denmark and Norway, and if a pseudo-constitution is rejected by the country which imposed it (France), is for a reason.
We can’t copy the States, our cultural differences are much bigger than the founding colonies. We can’t either form a federation. We must reinvent the union in a way we can conserve a certain degree of sovereignity, and a way in which power is distributed fairly with respect to minor countries. The France-Germany axis is over. The European Union is on the verge of a big crisis if our politicians fail to realise it.
Fernando

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