Spain scored just 22.30 out of 100 on the 2026 HelloSafe Prosperity Index. That ranks us 19th in Europe, right at the bottom.
But our politicians say Spain has a 2.6% GDP growth this year. They say we are leading the Eurozone. It is a total mismatch. The truth is raw GDP does not reach the average person. This index looks at poverty and income gaps. And that is where Spain fails.
I see this reality every week - store traffic is up, but basket sizes are shrinking. People shop more often but buy less. A normal consumer in Reus or Madrid does not care about macroeconomic stats. They care about the price of olive oil and milk.
Look at who wins in this environment. Mercadona just captured 38.1% of the Spanish market. How? By freezing prices and pushing private labels.
Discounters like Lidl España and ALDI ESPAÑA are growing fast. Even extreme discounters like PRIMAPRIX are popping up everywhere. Meanwhile, traditional retailers like Carrefour are losing market share.
Contrast this with the Czech Republic. They beat France on this index because they kept relative poverty down to 6.4%.
My advice for FMCG and retail brands in Spain is simple:
Stop chasing premium margins here. Spain is a street fight for value.
Focus on private label strength. Adjust your logistics for smaller, more frequent purchases.
If you want high margins, sell to Norway or Ireland. They top the index. If you are in Spain, adapt to the squeeze.