Madrid/Palma. The figuers were published yesterday in an Independent Consumer Federation (FUCI) report which showed that the Balearics followed in ranking so far as Christmas spending is forecast after Madrid (590 euros), Valencia (570), and Catalonia (565).
However, the economic crisis continues to hit many Spaniards hard. Although the average spend this Christmas is 514 euros, it is 46 less than a year ago and 300 less than people were prepared to part with in 2008 before the start of the financial squeeze.
Civil servants will notice the difference this year as they won't be getting their usual extra pay at Christmas.
Of the 514 euros of average spending (8% less than in 2011), 191 euros will go on food, 163 on presents, toys and games, 82 on the Christmas lottery and 78 euros on leisure.
FUCI calculated that since the start of the crisis, average spending at Christmas has plummeted by 49 percent.
Consumer Federation President Gustavo Samayoa confirmed yesterday that spending these coming seasonal holidays is expected to be the lowest since 2008.
FUCI's report noted important differences between some regions of Spain and others. Whilst in Madrid and Valencia, people were expected to spend nearly 600 euros per person, the average in the Canary Islands and Extremadura was forecast at closer to 450 euros per head. The degree to which spending has declined has been noticed above all in the Canary Islands and Andalucia, possibly, said FUCI, due to the high level of unemployment in these regions.
The Federation pointed out that although average spending on food this year is expected to be 2% higher than at Christmas 2011, this is probaly due to the increase in the price of food because interview-based research showed that there is a definite decline in the number of products consumers are prepared to buy.
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