Carlos Guisasola Madrid

Madrid

Updated Monday, March 25, 2024-00:40

With the roscón de Reyes still doing its thing, thousands of Madrid residents have the norm of immersing themselves in that kind of delirium that is the sales. This year has not been an exception either. In those almost two months of opportunities (whether going to the store or tracking down the bargain from your mobile phone), 2,569 million euros have been spent in the city of Madrid. A considerable figure, which is even more so when compared to previous years, since 9.1% more was disbursed than in the same period of 2023 and 24.6% more than in 2022. This is revealed by the Directorate's report General of Economy of the Madrid City Council, based on data from a portion of the transactions with BBVA cards at POS terminals of any entity or at physical POS terminals of the bank itself.

The fact is that, between January 7 and February 28, spending in Madrid, as is tradition, skyrocketed again. Reaching maximum values ​​on Fridays and Saturdays, which are the favorite days to give yourself joy with a card. "These figures reflect the strength of Madrid's commercial fabric, which grows steadily each year," says

Engracia Hidalgo

, delegate of Economy, Innovation and Finance of the Madrid City Council. And she adds a key reflection: "It is a pole of attraction for tourists."

Because although the bulk of the expenditure was local, with residents in the capital (57.6%) and the Community (13.7%), national and foreign visitors were responsible for almost 30% of the total disbursement. 17.9% came from Spanish tourists and 10.8% from those who arrived from outside the country. And to add a little more precision, travelers from Barcelona topped that ranking from within our borders, with 12.9%, ahead of Toledoans, visitors from Las Palmas and Valencians. Regarding international tourism, the United States (21.7%) led spending, beating the French (7.6%) and the British (7%). However, the highest average ticket was that of Chinese and Swiss travelers, with 82.4 and 50.4 euros, respectively.

Restoration and food

We already know who spends, but it remains to know what and where. To reveal the first, you have to immerse yourself, as usual, in the world of restaurants, which has grown to 30.2%. Also in food, with 16.9%. And, of course, in fashion, footwear and accessories (10.7%). Electronics and photography reached 2.2% and personal care, 4.1%. The general average ticket stood at 23.3 euros during 2024.

Specifically, the average expenditure on restaurants was 17.3 euros and on food, 16.4. Electronics and photography also registered high values ​​on that ticket, with

58 euros

, and personal care, which stood at

39.9 euros

.

For the second, you have to go to the Centro, Salamanca and Chamberí districts, where more than 40% of total spending is concentrated. On

Gran Vía ,

Preciados

Street

or any business near Puerta del Sol, 19.8% was spent. In the streets of the Salamanca neighborhood, 13.8% was invested and in Chamberí, 8.9%. Although if we talk only about national tourists, the focus was distributed between the central districts and Moncloa-Aravaca. The bulk of spending by residents in the capital occurred in the peripheral districts.

These are the main features of the municipal X-ray on the latest sales, where the frenzy and joy of credit cards showered the capital with 2.6 billion euros. Where hundreds of Barcelona residents found the oasis for their purchases in the capital. Where Madrid once again became the epicenter.