As Spain’s immigrant population continues to grow, a new study has found that household consumer spending by foreign residents in Spain is outpacing that of locals by more than double in some cases.
Average consumer goods consumption by foreign households in Spain is outpacing that of locals by around double, a new study shows.
According to findings from Worldpanel for Numerator, household spending among foreign residents in Spain is considerably outpacing that of Spaniards for the first six months of the year: “The truth is that if we look at the current trend among foreign households at the present time, their household spending more than doubles the national average, specifically 10.1 percent compared to 4.3 percent,” writes Joan Riera, office director for Worldpanel’s Spain division.
Nonetheless, the figures also revealed that foreigners tend to shop less frequently but buy more each time, compare prices, look for promotions, and try to save and control spending, as well as buying more private label brands.
READ ALSO: Is Spain’s ‘economic miracle’ making Spaniards richer?
Foreigners have preferences that locals do not. The report highlights that products such as juices, butter, breakfast cereals and pastries have seen their penetration in foreign households exceed the national average by more than 10 percent. The data shows that other products, however, such as unprocessed fish and seafood or olives, have a lower presence in foreigners’ shopping baskets.
Numerator noted that foreigners will play an increasing role in the Spanish economy and consumer habits moving forward. “With mass consumption entering a new cycle of stability, it is key for the market to identify and analyse changes in consumers, households and consumption habits in order to continue growing.
Among these, the immigrant population in Spain stands out, currently representing 14 percent of the total, with projections pointing to 75 percent growth over the next 15 years, even exceeding the number of people over 65, which will grow by 44 percent over the same period.”
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Of the ten most common foreigner nationalities in Spain, six come from Latin-America: Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, and Cuba.
Almost half of the foreigners living in Spain are Latin-American, followed by Europeans (29 percent) and Africans (19 percent). There are 1.6 million Latin American households in Spain, representing 7.9 percent of all registered households, and they have grown by more than 20 percent in the last three years.
As such, much of the study focused on Latin-American spending habits. In terms of purchasing preferences, 84.6 percent of Latin American households compare prices and 61.3 percent look for promotions, while 74.6 percent indicate that their goal is to save and control expenses.
In addition, they prefer to buy more private label brands, which account for 50 percent of the value of their purchases, compared to 44 percent of the general local market.
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Another recent study by inAtlas cited here by Reuters found that foreign tourists – in this case less so Latin-Americans but more European and US nationals with greater purchasing power – are also pricing locals out of their own domestic tourist destinations.
Foreigners, the study found, “stayed an average of eight nights at top Spanish beaches last year, with locals only affording half that time and spending a quarter of the money”.
Spaniards also made around 400,000 fewer trips to Spain’s provincial capitals in 2024 compared to in 2023, while visits by foreign holidaymakers to major cities unswayed by price rises increased by a little under 3 million.
READ ALSO: How Spaniards’ views on tourism keep getting more negative
