The cost of several basic items and services went up in Spain with the arrival of the New Year

The last recourse TUR electricity tariff, the only one where the price is fixed by the Government and which is used by 22.7 million homes and small businesses, has risen by 2.64%. It means an 89 cent increase for the average user each month. The old night use tariff has not increased and the bono social with installations of less than 3Kw, are also unchanged.
Pensioners and numerous families will pay no more, nor will families where all members are unemployed.

The 12.5 kilo gas bombona now costs 11.5 €, 36 cents more than in December, but T1 and T2 natural gas tariffs are unchanged.

RENFE train tickets are up 4% for AVE high speed and long distance routes and by 6% on local Cercanías and medium distance trains. Madrid travellers face as 21.6% increase for their ten journey ticket for the city’s busses and metro.

On the other side of the coin there have been reductions in price for all motorway tolls, with the exception of the Villalba-Adanero road.

There is no change for the second year in the landline fixed charge which remains at 13.97% plus IVA.

All income from savings will now face a general tax of 18%, while capital gains upto 6,000 € will face 19% tax and for larger amounts 21% will be placed.

The 400 € income tax rebate will only remain in place for those who earn less than 8,000 € a year, and then a sliding scale will run to 12,000 € above which the rebate is removed entirely.

There is a 1% increase in the amount of contribution pensions while the minimum pensions will be between 2% and 4.87% larger.

The Minimum Wage has gone up 1.5% to stand at 633.3 € a month.
Stamps are 2 cents more expensive on both National and European letters at 34 and 64 cents.

The most relevant change to spending costs will be the 2% hike in IVA/VAT which goes from 16% to 18%, or from 7% to 8% in July. The 4% rate will remain unchanged. (Via Original Source)