Costa Blanca

Birth rate at all time low in Alicante

According to the research The Cost of Parenting by Save the Children, the average monthly expense for raising a son or daughter in Alicante and the Valencian Community in 2024 is 839 euros, which is 18% more than in 2022. Motherhood and fatherhood have become financial burdens for many families due to inflation, rising house prices, and utility price increases.

Birth rates, meanwhile, are still declining. The region’s rate of 1.19 children per woman is one of the lowest in Europe, indicating a widening disparity between the desired and actual birth rates of children. Almost half of women who did not have children would have like to have more, and 20% of women over the age of 40 who already had children would have preferred to have more, according to the CIS Survey on Fertility, Family and Childhood.

The cost of raising a child is skyrocketing: why is this the case?

Important commodities and services have been severely impacted by inflation, according to Save the Children. There has been a 67% increase in home supplies and a 25% increase in food since 2022.

A staggering 45% of youngsters now reside in households that are severely unable to handle unforeseen costs; this number has increased by 4% in the past two years alone.

The three most expensive items since 2022 have been food (up over 25%), housing (up over 67%), and household supplies (up over 67%), which is a major aspect in the economic burden.

Particularly at risk are homes headed by a single parent, as the report notes. One study found that among the over 66,000 homes in the community headed by a single mother, 67.5% were at danger of poverty or social exclusion.

Director of Save the Children in the Valencian Community Rodrigo Hernández says that women’s capacity to afford the costs of having children is directly affected by their unstable employment situations and bad working conditions.

In relation to age, what is the average cost of raising a child?
Monthly costs associated with raising a child rise steadily when they enter puberty and continue to fluctuate throughout their formative years.

This is the age-based monthly expense for each child: Between the expenses of the nursery, home adaption, and food, the total cost approaches 650 euros for children aged 0 to 3. A bit more, up to 759 euros a month, between the ages of four and six. The anticipated monthly cost is 846 euros up until the age of 12, mainly because food prices go up and furniture needs to be replaced. The peak price point, at about 967 euros, occurs between the ages of 13 and 17. Spending on entertainment, apparel, and electronics rises at this point. “With adolescence, the cost shoots up: leisure is more expensive, children no longer play with toys, but with electronic devices, and food continues to increase,” the survey notes.

Adding insult to injury, the expense of housing is on the rise. From 2022 to 2018, the cost of housing and utilities increased by 67% and 84%, respectively.

Reversing the birth crisis requires greater public assistance.
In light of this, Save the Children maintains that public policies should be strengthened to assist in child raising. Among its suggestions are the following: a universal benefit for dependent children, mimicking programs in other European countries; streamlining the Valencian Income for Inclusion (RVI) to make it easier for more families to receive aid without bureaucratic red tape; and adjusting the aid to reflect the current economic reality, making sure that financial assistance truly covers the expenses of raising children.

The chance to ensure the rights of the most vulnerable children has presented itself with the reorganisation of the RVI, Hernández says.

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Hundreds of cans of tuna stolen from Lidl

As if from a film, two hooded defendants were caught by shop employees and subsequently apprehended by the Local Police and the Guardia Civil.

Events that are infused with cinematic vibes do exist. They may be deserving of a script. This occurred in Javea. Later, two suspects who had robbed a Lidl store in Finestrat (Marina Baixa) attempted to steal from a store of the same chain in Javea by driving north. The employees themselves apprehended the perpetrators during the attempted burglary, and they subsequently informed the local police.

The two males were in the process of fleeing when the officers arrived. However, their escape resulted in catastrophe. Their vehicle collided with a tree. Ultimately, the local police and Guardia Civil officers apprehended them, and they were subsequently transported to the Guardia Civil headquarters.

They were able to retrieve all of the items they had stolen during their journey from Finestrat to Xàbia during the operation. These goings on all occurred on Monday, 31st March, in the afternoon.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that the recovered products are depicted in numerous tuna cans in the photographs. It appears that the defendants harboured an excessive affection for this item, which, incidentally, is exceedingly costly, particularly when combined with olive oil. Additionally, it is feasible to observe certain coverings.

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What is the reason for the disappearance of Chinese bazaars in Spain?

Approximately 25 years ago, Chinese bazaars appeared in every neighbourhood and industrial estate in Spain, displacing the traditional pound stores. Similarly, they are now disappearing. In various regions of Spain, numerous stores owned by individuals of Chinese descent are liquidating their inventory, with some giving away their stock. The closure of the enigmatic kings of the retail sector has spawned a plethora of theories and speculation on social media, as individuals seek to understand the underlying reasons.

The Balearic Wholesale Bazaar was overrun by residents, resulting in the deployment of police to the Son Castelló industrial estate in Palma last weekend to resolve the resulting pandemonium. The business announced that it would begin giving away all of its products after weeks of liquidation as a result of its closure. It is not the sole establishment that is closing in Spain or the Balearic Islands.

A few months ago, the Maxi Asia Chinese market in Málaga, which was one of the largest in the city, closed. A low-priced giant sold out its stock in Leganés just a few weeks ago, and the same incident happened. Or in Murcia, where a series of stores in the city centre have been closing since last year.

What is the reason for the closure of Chinese bazaars?

In light of the international political situation and the rearmament mandated by the EU, one of the most prevalent theories on social media speculates on a potential widespread exodus of the Chinese community from Europe. Consequently, there is a widespread rumour that China is in possession of the keys to a global economic catastrophe or an imminent war. This assertion is refuted by Fang Ji, the administrator of the Association of Chinese in the Balearic Islands.

“Indeed, we have observed that certain bazaars and shops in Mallorca that are operated by Chinese entrepreneurs have either closed or are in the process of liquidating their inventory in recent months.” He also notes that “in general, we can emphasise a number of factors: inflation, increasing rental and utility costs, and changes in consumer habits have impacted numerous small businesses, not just those in the Chinese community.”

Fang Ji posits that the viability of certain conventional businesses has been impacted by the rise of e-commerce and competition from large retailers. Ultimately, an Asian bazaar is unable to compete with platforms such as Shein, Temu, or AliExpress.

Occasionally, the causes of business closures are more closely tied to Pedro Sánchez’s policies than to the international situation: “Some business owners have indicated that the tightening of specific administrative and tax regulations has presented an additional obstacle to the continuity of their operations.” Investments and modifications that are not always practicable for all individuals are necessary to accommodate these modifications.

Fang Ji also emphasises that “the Chinese community in the Balearic Islands has contributed to the region’s commercial and business fabric for decades.” He also notes that some owners have decided to close for personal reasons or to reorient their business model, as the pandemic and economic changes have prompted many entrepreneurs to rethink their future and explore other opportunities.

What is the total number of Chinese bazaars in Spain?

The lack of specific official data complicates the process of determining the precise number of Chinese-run bazaars in Spain. In 2023, the figure was predicted to be 18,000 establishments, according to Laureano Turienzo, the president of the Spanish Retail Association. Nevertheless, Turienzo has estimated that the number of stores and bazaars in Spain could now surpass 20,000 in “very easy” fashion, as evidenced by numerous interviews with members of the Chinese community.

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13th Classic Motor Festival in Guardamar on Saturday, April 12

According to the mayor of Guardamar del Segura, José Luis Sáez, the 13th Solidarity Motor Festival will be held on Saturday, April 12th, and is a “well-loved and established” event. The Guardamar City Council and the Rotary Club of Guardamar are collaborating to organise the event, which promises to be an enjoyable and festive day.

María Venerdi, Councillor for Festivals; José Francisco López, “Caqui,” representative of the Guardamar Classic Vehicle Association; and Francisco José Peiró and Teodoro Rodríguez, president and events coordinator, respectively, of the Guardamar Rotary Club, also presented this event.

According to the local Rotary Club event organiser, “This festival is organised in partnership with Les Dunes Secondary School to establish a book bank and provide it with the necessary resources to continue expanding.”

The arrival of participating vehicles at Town Hall Square will commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 12. Subsequently, at 11 a.m., “we will present a variety of performances for the audience.” Classic vehicles, American vehicles, and rolling jewels that are exclusively displayed at these events will be visible.

Local dance academies Dreams Dance Academy and Chari Candela Dance School will perform on the stage in front of City Hall, in addition to the musical group Saint & Sinner. The morning will conclude with a massive paella that will serve nearly 800 individuals, and the bar will serve food and beverages.

Caqui has announced that the festival will include approximately 180 cars and motorcycles, including a replica of the DMC DeLorean from the film “Back to the Future” that will be on display in a film car area. The replica will include all of the original car’s components. Additionally, the van from the television series “The A-Team” and a Ford Torino similar to the one featured in “Starsky and Hutch” will be on display.

María Venerdi describes it as “a historic event that draws attendees from throughout the province of Alicante and ignites the streets of Guardamar with joy.” The councillor urged all individuals to “enjoy these magnificent cars and the planned activities.”