prices

Why do prices go up if sales go down?

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The real estate market has started 2026 with a strange ‘photo’ that, a priori, seems to contradict the most basic laws of the market: sales fallbut prices go up. Or what is the same, thousands of fewer operations are closed in notary offices than a year ago without this apparent cooling in demand being passed on to prices, which continue to grow at the same time. double digit after saying goodbye to last year with historical data. The question in view of this duo trend is evident: What is happening? And above all, what can we expect now? Fewer homes sold. Although winter is not the time of year more dynamic For the real estate sector, the first quarter of 2026 has left a curious image: despite how tense the market is and that homes continue to be created at much more speed of which new homes are built, in Spain there are fewer houses changing hands. The purchase and sale operations chained three months downward during the start of 2026, which explains why the INE registered a 2.6% decline in the first quarter. The number: 4,713. To be precise, the INE registered 61,295 transactions of homes throughout March, 2.2% less than during the same month in 2025. If we talk about new constructions, the decline was even more pronounced: 10.2% (5.3%, if we talk about the entire quarter). In general, the aggregate for the year (January-March) is 178,473 purchases, 4,713 less than in the equivalent period of 2025. The ‘photo’ of the marketOf course, it is not the same throughout the territory. There were eight regions in which March closed with more transactions than last year, with Castilla-La Mancha in the lead; but in eight others (including some of the most populated) the trend was the opposite. In Madrid the INE recorded 2.5% fewer purchases and sales, in Catalonia the decline was 3.5% and in Andalusia 6.5%. The largest falls were recorded in the Basque Country (-11.6%) and Cantabria (-15.4%). The INE is not the only one to detect the setback. In March, the Notarial Council also registered a 4.7% puncture in transactions, more pronounced in the case of apartments. And the prices? They point in the opposite direction. He latest newsletter from the Ministry of Housing on appraisals shows that, in general, free housing became more expensive during the first quarter of the year until the residential square meter (m2) stood at 2,315.7 euros. For reference, it is 3.8% more than the previous quarter and 13.9% above what was paid a year before. In new housing, less than five years old, the increase compared to 2025 was 12.8% and in used housing (more than five years old) 13.8%. Once again, the trend was also felt in the offices of notaries. In it same statement in which it notes a general drop of 4.7% in sales in March, the sector reports a 7% rise in the cost of m2. Its balance sheet shows this apparent dissonance even more clearly: apartment transactions fell by 5.8% compared to March 2025, while prices rose by 9.7% to reach €2,332/m2; In the case of single-family homes, operations contracted by 1.1% while the cost rose by 2.2%. Year (1st quarter) Free housing (€/m2) less than five years More than five years 2020 1,640.4 1,891.5 1,632.5 2021 1,625.4 1,879.3 1,617.5 2022 1,734.0 1,980.9 1,726.7 2023 1,788.4 2,112.1 1,778.1 2024 1,865.8 2,199.3 1,855.8 2025 2,033.4 2,357.3 2,024.1 2026 2,315.7 2,685.2 2,303.8 But… Why? The first thing is to take perspective. The market may be stepping on the brakes with respect to 2025, but it continues to move at high levels if we analyze what the sector has managed since the setback that followed the brick crisis of 2008. That is, the 61,295 transactions in March may be less than those of 2025, but they are still well above the 44,664 of 2024. In fact, a year ago we were at record values that have not been seen since 2007. It is an important nuance because it shows that the drop in sales in the first quarter of 2026, as much as it may attract attention, seems to point more to a gradual slowdown than a sudden turn or change in cycle. The market gives signs, true, but they come after 2025 that closed with more than 700,000 salesthe highest figure in almost 20 years, since the bursting of the brick bubble. He last balance from the INE also shows that purchases do not suffer throughout the territory. In fact, there are regions, such as Castilla-La Mancha, Navarra, La Rioja or the Valencian Community, Galicia or Asturias, where they have grown. And the prices? Not everything is uphill. There are those who also appreciate some restraint. A recent study by Idealista shows, for example, that in the first quarter 14% of homes for sale they had to lower their price. During the same period in 2025 that percentage was 11%. Other reports specify that, beyond the general ‘photo’ provided by the Ministry of Housing, there are cities (including some capitals) in which prices have moderated. something moves. The above helps to put things into perspective, but it does not mean that the residential market is not changing. confirms it in theEconomist José García Montalvo, expert at the Pompeu Fabra University: “The slowdown in sales is one more example of a trend that is corroborated by the increase in sales time, the growing disparity between the prices that sellers want to receive and the growing limitations of buyers due to the difficulty of obtaining credits of the necessary amount for homes whose price has grown rapidly.” Ángel Talavera, from Oxford Economics, launches another reflection in elDiario: “When prices begin to rise uncoupled from rising incomes, it is likely that purchases will slow down.” The truth is that the cost of housing itself partly explains the slowdown in sales. Rentals, for example, they continue to get more expensive. And while this makes the purchase more attractive, it also … Read more

The prices of RAM and SSDs are skyrocketing everywhere, but there are alternatives to avoid spending a fortune

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It’s no longer just that the price of RAM memory is through the roof (which also): that of SSDs has followed the same path. Upgrading a PC right now is complicated if you don’t want to spend a fortune trying, but there are alternatives to spend less. The AliExpress Summer Promo has very powerful offers (on mobile phones especially), but also in PC components: you have this 1 TB Netac SSD for 114.80 euros if you use the coupon ‘XATAKAES20‘and pay with PayPal. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Speaking of coupons, AliExpress has right now lots of assets to save on your purchases. We leave them here so that you have them on hand in case you want to make any additional purchases (remember that the coupons cannot be combined). Discount minimum purchase coupon 1 coupon 3 coupon 4 COUPON 3 euros 15 euros XATAKAES03 WEBEDES03 ESSS03 SSES03 6 euros 39 euros XATAKAES06 WEBEDES06 ESSS06 SSES6 10 euros 69 euros XATAKAES10 WEBEDES10 ESSS10 SSES10 20 euros 139 euros XATAKAES20 WEBEDES20 ESSS20 SSES20 30 euros 209 euros XATAKAES30 WEBEDES30 ESSS30 SSES30 45 euros 319 euros XATAKAES45 WEBEDES45 ESSS45 SSES45 65 euros 459 euros XATAKAES65 WEBEDES65 ESSS65 SSES65 110 euros 650 euros XATAKAES110 WEBEDES110 ESSS110 – Upgrading a PC without spending a fortune is still possible Is it a good price? Let’s analyze how the price of SSDs is currently with this one from the Forgeon brand as an example, similar in features. The lowest price for it, also with 1 TB capacity, was 61.95 euros last September. Since then it has done nothing but rise and right now it costs 189.95 euros (reduced from 234.99 euros). In that sense, it is clear that we are looking at a good price with this one from the Netac brand. It is about a NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD able to reach speeds of up to almost 7,400 MB/s read. Of course, a small note: it is necessary that your motherboard is compatible with it. If your board only has PCIe 3.0 connectors, you can also use it, although it will not take full advantage of all its speed. The SSD is sold by the brand itself through AliExpress and shipping is free (delivery is estimated between June 7 and 15). It should also be noted that it is an SSD also compatible with PlayStation 5. DDR4 RAM can still be an interesting solution What if what you need is RAM memory? DDR5 RAM has very inflated prices, but we can find DDR4 RAM at good prices, which remains an interesting option for many usersespecially if your processor and motherboard are a few years old and you don’t want to change them. This Netac RAM memory can do you very well there: two modules of 8 GB of RAM each come out 75.45 euros with the coupon ‘XATAKAES10‘. DDR4 Netac RAM memory at 3,200 MHz (2 modules of 8 GB) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links As we say, they are two separate modules, so we will have a total of 16 GB of RAM in total. If we take a look at PcComponentes and look for something similar, it is difficult to find the same amount of memory with similar characteristics below 120 euros. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Andrey MatveevAliExpress In Xataka | DDR4 or DDR5? What RAM to choose so as not to pay even more than necessary in the middle of the price crisis In Xataka | Faster (and more expensive) is not always better: the big difference between buying an SSD and an HDD for backups

El Corte Inglés liquidates in its Save the VAT all these LG, Samsung and Sony TVs in its online outlet with prices from 495 euros

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El Corte Inglés returns with its Save VATa campaign where we can find offers on some products in the store for a few days. It will end on May 24, so there is not much time to choose between so many devices. However, if you are looking for a good TV, be careful because in its outlet there are very good prices on brands such as LG, Samsung and Sony. Sony Bravia XR-65A84L by 635.50 eurosa television with a 65-inch OLED screen. LG 75QNED876QB by 660.29 eurosan ideal TV if you are looking for an even larger size. Sony Bravia 7 65XR70 by 495.01 eurosa smart TV with a 65-inch MiniLED panel. Samsung TQ65QN800DTXXC by 528.07 eurosa television with 8K resolution. Samsung TQ48S93FAEXXC by 495.01 eurosa TV with OLED panel technology. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Sony Bravia XR-65A84L If you usually watch a lot of movies and series at home and are looking for a good television with OLED panel technology, the model Sony Bravia XR-65A84L It is located in El Corte Inglés for a price of 635.50 euros. It incorporates a 65-inch screen, its operating system is Google TV and it has HDMI 2.1. In addition, its refresh rate is up to 120 Hz (ideal for gaming) and it is compatible with both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LG 75QNED876QB If you prefer a television that is more oriented towards gaming and that is also larger, but not much more expensive, El Corte Inglés has the smart TV LG 75QNED876QB for a price of 660.29 euros. It is a television with MiniLED technology, which is also interesting to enjoy sports to the fullest. Its screen is 75 inches, the refresh rate reaches 120 Hz and it incorporates an HDMI 2.1 port. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Sony Bravia 7 65XR70 On the other hand, if you are looking for a good television that is even cheaper than the previous ones, the store right now has 495.01 euros the model Sony Bravia 7 65XR70. We are talking about a TV that also has MiniLED technology, although in this case its screen is 65 inches. Its refresh rate is also 120 Hz, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos and its operating system is Google TV. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung TQ65QN800DTXXC He Samsung TQ65QN800DTXXC It was one of those televisions that were launched betting on 8K resolution, and can currently be found in the El Corte Inglés outlet at a price of 528.07 euros. It includes a screen with 65-inch Neo QLED technology, its refresh rate reaches up to 165 Hz, it has anti-reflective treatment, its speakers are compatible with Dolby Atmos and it integrates the voice assistant Alexa. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Samsung TQ48S93FAEXXC Finally, if you want a television to watch a lot of film and series content, but you want its size to be smaller than the rest of the models we have mentioned, El Corte Inglés has the Samsung TQ48S93FAEXXC for a price of 495.01 euros. It is a television with an OLED panel and a 48-inch diagonal. It also has anti-reflective treatment, its refresh rate reaches 144 Hz, it is compatible with Dolby Atmos and includes a gaming mode. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | El Corte Inglés and Compradicción (header), Sony, Samsung, LG In Xataka | Best home theater projectors. Which one to buy and five recommended models from 299 to 18,000 euros In Xataka | Mega-guide to set up a home theater: projector, screen, sound system and more

eliminates another service and prices are through the roof

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In May 2024, The Madrid-Galicia AVE was launched. After years of complaints, high speed was entering Galician territory to change the rules of the game in mobility between the two autonomous communities. We were not aware of the latter two years ago. And it is that he AVE to Galicia He arrived surrounded by controversy. The first days were marked by delays. In order to take the trains to the Galician railway tracks, Renfe has had to use those known as Talgo S-106 or AVRIL. They are trains that can combine two different track gauges, essential in a country where the train was founded on Iberian gauge tracks and which, later, has added international gauge tracks for its high speed. This historical peculiarity It is one of the reasons why Renfe has taken so long to arrive in Galicia and also the main reason why Ouigo and Iryo do not consider entering to compete with the company in this line. And, at the moment, Talgo trains are the only ones that provide this service. But also, as as the Galicians could see in the first days of 2025 and how the people of Madrid and Catalans have verified that move on the Madrid-Barcellona, ​​are not the most reliable trains on the market. And despite everything, despite the fact that Renfe is looking for new partners that they offer you this “jumping the road” solution and despite the fact that Passage times are still higher than promisedthe train has managed to win the battle against the airlines. The result: fewer tickets and very high prices. By air, at 180 euros (in the best of cases) Since high speed reached Madrid-Galicia, the movement capacity between both autonomous communities has skyrocketed. We saw the first clues last summer. Iberia retracted its offer between both autonomous communities because the train, especially the early one, was more attractive despite taking four hours longer. The reasons are obvious: lower prices and easier access to the station in relatively small cities such as Vigo or Santiago de Compostela (compared to the airport). And, adding the time to get to the airport, boarding, getting off the plane and the time it takes to get to the center of Madrid from Barajasthe traveler had spent more or less the same time but with a more uncomfortable means of transportation. The result is that the options for flying have decreased and are less competitive. The first flight between Vigo and Madrid is the Air Europa that lands at Barajas Airport at 9:50. To that time we must add the time to get off the plane and get to the city center, which may well be an hour in the best of cases. Practically at the same time (five minutes later) the first train arrives from Vigo to Madrid but one is already inside the city. Something similar has happened with the return trips to Madrid, although here the plane continues to win. The train, however, allows speed up time more until reaching the station from the center of the city, which results in better use of the day and greater comfort. Right now, with the decline of the airlines, only Air Europa with a flight at 9:05 p.m. allows you to take advantage of the day until the end. Despite the decline, this air offer was still very useful for those who spend the weekend in one city or another and return late on Sunday. However, the use of the train continues to narrow the supply on airlines. As they say in Vigo LighthouseIberia has eliminated one more Sunday flight and now its offer is limited to two journeys at the end of the week. These flights leave Vigo at 1:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., so they are not very competitive for those who live in Madrid during the week and travel to Galicia on the weekends. Much less so are their prices, which do not go below 180 euros and, with less supply available, dynamic prices have reached 330 euros in some cases. Furthermore, being operated by Air Nostrum with a Bombardier CRJ-1000the available places are even smaller, moving into the hundreds. Very far from the 180 places that the Airbus A320common in national trips. The success of Renfe among Galicians has been reducing the air supply and for now only Air Europa remains firm in its commitment with 1,500 seats daily and four flights in each direction. Outside of this low cost offer, the options are minimal. And they are getting smaller and smaller. The problem in this case is that the departure of Iberia puts even more pressure on the AVE supply on Sunday afternoon which, as in the case of the airline, does not allow you to take advantage of the afternoon because the last trip leaves before 2:00 p.m. from Vigo. Yes indeed, given dynamic prices It is possible that we will see increases in their prices because the air alternative is less. As little used as it is. Photo | Phil Richards and Bene Riobó In Xataka | Renfe is looking for new trains for the AVE and something much more important: not making the same mistake as with Talgo

LG, Xiaomi, Philips TVs and more at outlet prices until tomorrow

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MediaMarkt is celebrating its traditional VAT-Free Day until tomorrow at 9am. If you are thinking about renew some TV in your housethese are the five best deals that we have found in this famous campaign of this store. Philips Ambilight 75PUS8510 4K QLED Smart TV – 75 Inch Screen The price could vary. We earn commission from these links PEAQ PTV 24GH-5025C by 98.34 euros: 24 inches and with Google TV. Xiaomi TV A Pro 32 2026 by 131.40 euros: 32 inches and with Google TV. Haier H50S80FUX by 296.69 euros: QLED, 50 inches and with Google TV. Philips Ambilight 75PUS8510/12 by 685.12 euros: 75-inch QLED and with Titan OS. LG OLED55B56LA by 759.50 euros: 55-inch OLED and with webOS. PEAQ PTV 24GH-5025C We start our compilation with one of the TVs that is always a hit every time it is on sale. This is this PEAQ PTV 24GH-5025C 24 inchesperfect for the kitchen, bedroom or even a second home. Its price now is 98.34 euros. Peaq is MediaMarkt’s own brand and, for its price, it stands out for operating under the Google TV operating system. Additionally, it is compatible with HDR10 and Dolby Audio. Additionally, with a 12V connection, this TV can be used in a caravan or truck and can be powered via USB-C cable. 24″ LED TV – PEAQ PTV 24GH-5025C, HD Ready, Google TV, Dolby Audio, DVB-T2, Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Xiaomi TV A Pro 32 2026 If you are looking for a slightly larger TV (although not much), this 32 inch QLED from Xiaomi is a good option for you. Before it cost 159 euros, but now you can take it, during the Day without VAT, for 131.40 euros. This Xiaomi TV A Pro 32 is compatible with HDR10+, Dolby Audio and DTS:X. It works under the Google TV operating system and is also compatible with Apple AirPlayso you can send content directly from your iPhone or iPad. XIAOMI QLED 32″ A Pro 2026 UltraHD 4K Dolby Audio Google TV The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Haier H50S80FUX Another TV with good value for money that is worth it on MediaMarkt’s VAT-Free Day is this one 50 inch QLED from the Haier firm belonging to the S80F Series. Its previous price was 359 euros, but now you can get it for 296.69 euros. It offers 4K resolution and is compatible with formats such as HDR10 and Dolby Audio. The operating system that comes standard is Google TV and it also offers a refresh rate of 120 Hz, making it a good option for gaming. QLED TV 50″ – Haier S80 Series H50S80FUX, QLED 4K HDR10, Google TV, Gaming 120Hz, Dolby Audio, Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Philips Ambilight 75PUS8510/12 If you like try the Ambilight experience and on a big screen, this television model is for you. The Philips Ambilight 75PUS8510/12 mounts a panel 75 inch QLED and now it costs 685.12 euros. In addition, you get a refund of 100 euros and six months of free Movistar Plus. This TV works under the operating system Titan OS and its Ambilight lighting system is its hallmark. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10, as well as voice assistants Alexa and Google Assistant. Philips Ambilight 75PUS8510 4K QLED Smart TV – 75 Inch Screen The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LG OLED55B56LA Finally, if you want to have an OLED TV, now thanks to this MediaMarkt campaign you will not have to pay the average 1,000 euros for the cheapest models of this type. This from the LG firm It is now on sale and you can buy it for 759.50 euros. Your dashboard 55 inch OLED It is perfect for watching movies and series in the dark, for example. The brain of this television is the α8 Gen2 processor and it is a TV that works under the operating system webOS. LG OLED55B56LA – TV 55″, OLED 4K The price could vary. We earn commission from these links

Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron are already working on DDR6 while memory prices continue to skyrocket

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The market is going through an unprecedented component crisis. In 2020, a perfect storm caused there to be no chips, but it was known that the storm would pass sooner rather than later. The problem is that the storm of current NAND chip crisis It doesn’t look like it’s going to give us a break in the short term. All memory manufacturers have focused on creating chips for artificial intelligence platformsbut in the meantime, they continue developing DDR6 memories. It will take a long time for consumers to be able to taste them. In short. DDR5 memory has not had a normal life cycle in the consumer market. It was expensive and, when prices began to drop, AI hyperscalers arrived to take over everything available. This is how we have reached a situation in which just 32 GB exceeds the 400 euros: all production is focused on hyperscalers and there are no ‘pills’ for consumption. However, that doesn’t mean that DDR5 has done poorly, not at all. Samsung or SK Hynix they are breaking records and, for them, things are working out great. That is why, together with Micron, they are starting to prepare the ground for the new technology: DDR6 memories. Last year JEDEC (the consortium that is responsible for standardizing DDR, LPDDR and NAND microelectronics) already detailed the standard LPDDR6 and it seems that the fringes are being polished for DDR6. Now, as we read in Wccftechthe big three of memory They are warming up for the near future with their new generation. Performance leap. These new memories will not only be faster. It talks about speeds minimum of 8,800 MT/s according to that JEDEC standard, but can reach up to 17,600 MT/s as the technology develops. They would practically double the performance of DDR5 and the trident of the RAM it takes a few months working together with Intel, AMD and Nvidia in the prototype validation processes. But it’s not just about pure speed, but about architecture. About 2×32-bit DDR5 RAM we would pass to a 4×24-bit subchannel architecture. It is something that brings challenges when it comes to managing temperatures and consumption, but also presents a clear advantage: improved parallelism and greater use of bandwidth. Plate change. For players, that is going to be a little problem, since an architecture change usually entails a board change. And, if the rumors and leaks are true, that plate change will be assured. The reason is that there are sources that they point that CAMM2 is going to gain a lot of weight with DDR6, especially in laptops and compact computers, and could gradually displace the traditional DIMM in certain segments. If this doesn’t tell you anything, visualize how RAM is mounted on a current motherboard. These are modules that are mounted perpendicular to the plate, something that has been around for years and that, although it has been functional for a long time, presents friction when you want to reach certain speeds. On the contrary, we have M.2 SSDs that are mounted in parallel, just like the LPDDR memory of laptops. Precisely, this is what these DDR6 tablets would be like, so manufacturers would have to redesign their boards to adapt either from the front or by adding the connectors to the back of the plate. Context. You probably have two questions in mind: how much DDR6 memory will cost and why the rush. We cannot answer the first question, but for the second question we can guess where the shots are going. We have commented that DDR6 RAM will come hand in hand with a notable improvement in bandwidth, and that is something that the artificial intelligence industry is desperately looking for. Until now, there were many powerful GPUs in data centers to train AI models, but in the era of Agentic AIwhat is needed is equipment more similar to a traditional PC. This is why Intel and AMD sand they are moving to mass-produce their professional processors again, and that is where DDR6 memory would make perfect sense thanks to that improvement in bandwidth. For inference, it’s great. It is already being tested with an arrival on the market for 2028 or 2029, but it will be the hyperscalers who monopolize all DDR6 memory production. Only when the voracity of data centers calms down will the modules begin to reach the mass consumer market. The translation is that Micron, SK Hynix and Samsung are already working on it, but to be able to build a desktop PC with DDR6 there are several years ahead. In the meantime, I’d say we can settle for DDR5, but looking at the prices… Image | Luan Gjokaj (edited) In Xataka | The RAM crisis is destroying all of Valve’s plans with its Steam Machine

Renfe has found a new way to make life impossible for Ouigo and Iryo. And it has nothing to do with lowering prices.

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Renfe maintains a hidden war with Ouigo and Iryo. Beyond the headlines and the exchanges of more or less high-sounding statements, the Spanish company and its rivals fight on all types of grounds. Also outside the train tracks and the most obvious sources of business. And here, the use of workshops has a lot to say. What has happened? Renfe has prevented Iryo from using its workshops so that the company can carry out heavy maintenance on its trains. The information is brought The Economist and it states that the Spanish company has rejected Italians’ access to its facilities because they consider that the activity to be carried out there exceeds the obligations they have towards their rivals. In Xataka We have contacted both companies but as of this writing we have not received answers to our questions. The obligations. Although the facilities belong to Renfe, the Spanish company has the obligation to allow access to its workshops at specific points in Spain so that Ouigo and Iryo can carry out their maintenance operations. However, this obligation is limited to light maintenance, known in the sector as “level 1” maintenance. This scale of what falls within “light” or “level 1” maintenance and what are “heavy” or “level 2” maintenance interventions are those that have been questioned by Renfe. The company is clear, Iryo wants to carry out operations of this second category and they are not obliged to give access to their workshops for this type of tasks. The CNMC. Given the denial of access to the workshops, Iryo went to the CNMC to mediate the matter. The National Markets and Competition Commission ruled in March that Renfe had to give Iryo access to its facilities where Hitachi employees would carry out maintenance services on Iryo trains. Although Renfe, Iryo and Hitachi seemed to have reached an agreement for the latter company (manufacturer of Iryo trains) to carry out maintenance at Renfe facilities, the Spanish company indicated that this could not be carried out because heavy maintenance activity related to Renfe trains had skyrocketed and there was no space left for such actions. Given this situation, Iryo requested provisional measures from the CNMC to access “an operational pit at BMI La Sagra or, subsidiarily, at BM Santa Catalina, on a self-provision basis, for the execution of heavy maintenance (R2) of the ETR 1000.” An access that the CNMC decided to give. The reasons. The CNMC pointed out in its resolution that denying Iryo access to the workshops directly damages the business plans that it has for our country since it would force the trains to be taken to Italy to undergo said heavy maintenance. For Renfe, this should not be a problem but the CNMC rejects this position of the Spanish company. Iryo trains approach the mileage limit before passing through workshops for a thorough inspection. When Iryo arrived in Spain, it stated that it would have its own workshops where it would carry out its maintenance. However, this has not occurred. However, the CNMC forces Renfe to provide access to its facilities to carry out these tasks, with the rates that were negotiated in the summer of 2025. Not compliant. In clear rejection of the CNMC’s decision, Renfe requests the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the National Court to stop this decision and asks the CNMC to quarantine the decision until the National Court confirms what measures should be taken. The National Court, however, does not find it serious enough to apply precautionary measures, although it does confirm that it is opening a file to study the matter in depth. With this decision, the CNMC remains firm and once again forces Renfe to make way for Iryo trains in its workshops so that Hitachi workers can carry out scheduled heavy maintenance. It’s not the first time. Although we have talked about Iryo so far, the truth is that Renfe is not the first time that it has denied entry to its workshops to one of its rivals or, at the very least, has put up all possible impediments. In October of last year, the situation was very similar although, on that occasion It was Renfe and Ouigo who led the conflict. The reason was the same, according to Renfe the activity that Ouigo wanted to carry out in his workshops exceeded his company’s obligations to lend its facilities to carry out light maintenance. The fight between the three companies is tough because if Iryo and Ouigo do not get access to the Renfe workshops, they have to send their trains to Italy and France, respectively, where they do have their own workshops. That, of course, temporarily takes some of its trains out of circulation, which undoubtedly benefits its competitors. Photo | Investing Spain and UGT In Xataka | Spain has thousands of kilometers of AVE: the question after the Adamuz accident is whether it is investing in maintaining them

The periphery was always the refuge of those fleeing the housing prices of Madrid. That’s over

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With an untouchable market, exorbitant prices and draconian conditionsfor years many residents of Madrid who wanted to buy a house had no choice but to look outside the capital, in the metropolitan area. The logic was very simple: perhaps they couldn’t afford a flat in Castellana, but they could in Alcobendas, Coslada, Leganés or Móstoles, towns relatively well connected to Madrid and with more ‘friendly’ real estate markets. The problem is that these shelters are becoming fewer and fewer shelters. Where do I buy a house? There was a time when the answer to that question was obvious. One bought where one could, but usually the market offered enough margin so as not to have to leave the municipality in which one wanted to live due to roots, personal ties or work. In recent years that margin has been increasingly narrowing in cities like Madrid or Barcelona, ​​forcing buyers to consider your future beyondin metropolitan areas. There are even people who, taking advantage of teleworking and the improvement of public transport, decide to put their things in boxes and move dozens (or even hundreds) of kilometers away without giving up their jobs in Madrid. It is something that is already perceived, for example in Valladolidwhich has seen its registry grow thanks in part to Madrid residents who come there attracted by a more affordable residential market. There are around two hundred kilometers by car between both cities, but the AVE allows you to cover the journey in just over one hour. Click on the image to go to the tweet. Is it a real solution? The problem, like pointed out a few days ago José Manuel García Suárez in Their prices may still be lower in many cases than those paid on average in the capital, but that distance is being reduced little by little. What’s more, the more affordable their markets were initially, the faster they seem to be becoming more expensive, lowering their value as housing ‘havens’. What does that mean? Although housing in these locations is still cheaper than in Madrid, the m2 has begun to become more expensive than in the capital, which raises an uncomfortable question: Will they continue to be an alternative for those fleeing the capital? And if so, how long? The phenomenon is best understood with Idealista data. Right now on the real estate portal, the average residential m2 in Madrid is offered at 5,960 euros. Except for some luxury developments, there is no town in the province with such expensive housing. However, what Madrid no longer stands out for is the rate at which prices rise. According to Idealistahouses have become more expensive there by 12% in the last year compared to 16% in Pozuelo de Alcorcón, 19.8% in Majadahonda, 19.3% in Alcobendas, 16.2% in Rivas-Vaciamadrid or 20.8% in Getafe. Population Price (March 2026) Quarterly variation Annual variation Madrid €5,960/m2 +2.4% +12% Alcobendas €3,962/m2 +3.5% +19.3% San Sebastian de los reyes €3,861/m2 +3.4% +12.1% Three Songs €3,904/m2 +2.1% +16.9% Las Rozas €4,031/m2 +3.3% +19.2% Majadahonda €4,675/m2 +4.6% +19.8% Pozuelo de Alarcón €4,966/m2 +2.8% +16% Boadilla del Monte €3,924/m2 +2.6% +17.4% Mostoles €2,924/m2 +4.5% +20.6% Leganes €3,120/m2 +2.1% +20.2% Fuenlabrada €2,810/m2 +4.6% +19.6% Getafe €3,162/m2 +3.7% +20.8% Rivas-Vaciamadrid €3,241/m2 +3.4% +16.2% Coslada €3,121/m2 +1.7% +23.5% San Fernando de Henares €2,983/m2 +1% +20.9% But it was something to be expected, right? More or less. That housing is becoming more expensive at a faster rate in Fuenlabrada than in Madrid capital is in a certain way logical. The higher a value is, the more difficult it is for it to register large percentage increases. In other words: that in Madrid housing has risen by 12% and in Coslada by 23.5% does not have to mean, in net terms, that the latter requires disbursing a greater amount of money. Making the above clear, data such as those published by Idealista show that the real estate market is overheating more quickly in the periphery than in the metropolis. And that is relevant because it paints a scenario in which the metropolitan area stops being the “plan B” of those looking for affordable housing. The phenomenon also It is not exclusive to Madrid. Something similar is happening on the outskirts of Barcelona, ​​which has seen how housing in Badalona, ​​Santa Coloma or Cornella de Llobregat becomes more expensive at a faster rate than in Barcelona. What can we expect? The outlook is complicated for several reasons. Firstly, because the Madrid or Barcelona market does not give any signs that it is cooling, not at least as far as prices are concerned. Also in Spain they continue to be created homes faster than new homes are being built, suggesting that the deficit that stresses the market will not be corrected in the short term. The question is how that will affect large metropolitan areas. Teleworking and public transportation mean that there are more and more people willing to live far from their jobs (the number of those who live and work in different provinces has increased by 30% since 2019), but cases such as those in Madrid or Barcelona show that price increases do not take long to spread to new markets, especially targeting the most affordable ones. Image | Joshua Aguilar (Unsplash) In Xataka | In its crazy rise in housing prices, Madrid has just broken a barrier: that of the most expensive apartment in its history

Volotea begins to charge extra due to the rise in oil prices on its flights. 97% of passengers have agreed to pay it

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More and more airlines are already taking measures to contain the energy chaos that has arisen as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Although many of them have chosen to cancel a good number of flightsothers have chosen to make their tickets more expensive. One of them has been Volotea. And the Spanish airline has launched a price adjustment policy linked at the cost of fuel which can make the ticket already purchased more expensive up to a week before flying. Crisis in the Middle East. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuzthrough which it passes about 40% of oil consumed by European airlines, has skyrocketed the price of fuel and forced the sector to look for ways to avoid absorbing the blow on their own. Volotea has been the first Spanish airline to transfer this cost to the passenger explicitly and with its own mechanism. What exactly has he done. Since March 16, Volotea has applied what it calls the Fair Travel Promise: seven days before the departure of each flight, the airline consults the market price of fuel in public sources and, if it has increased compared to the time of the reservation, charges the passenger a supplement of up to 14 euros per person per trip. According to they count From 20 Minutes, most surcharges are between 7 and 10 euros. And the adjustment can also work the other way around: if the price of fuel drops, the company returns the difference. What options does the passenger have? The traveler who receives the surcharge notice has a period of 48 hours to decide what to do. You can pay the supplement and continue with your plans, request a full refund of the ticket, or take advantage of the time offered by the airline to modify or cancel the reservation for free up to four hours before takeoff. The company ensures that its customers are aware of this policy before booking, since they must accept it at the time of purchase. The numbers that Volotea manages. According to data from the airline itself, 97% of affected passengers have chosen to pay and keep their trip. The company interprets that percentage as a sign that the measure “is aligned with customer expectations,” in its own words. In addition, it has canceled a small percentage of flights due to higher fuel prices, although it assures that it affects less than 1% of its total schedule. Countermeasures. Not all airlines are acting the same. According to Expansioncompanies such as Air France-KLM, Qantas or Cathay Pacific already apply fuel supplements, while IAG (the group that owns Iberia and British Airways) or Ryanair do not do so at the moment. Groups such as Lufthansa or Ryanair itself have asked the European Union to study a joint purchasing model for kerosene, similar to the one that was launched with gas after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Why can it go further? If the Strait of Hormuz blockade is prolonged, pressure on fuel prices could intensify. The Airports Council International (ACI Europe) and Ryanair already have warned that the problem of cancellations in the industry could worsen if supply suffers. Spain has some margin thanks to its national refining capacity (almost 9.9 million tons of kerosene per year, according to share El Mundo), but it is not a structural solution. Volotea has moved in a different way, and now we wonder if more airlines will join this strategy. Cover image | Dylan Agbagni (Wikipedia) In Xataka | Airlines are becoming more imaginative to save costs: Lufthansa is going to clean economy class less

Memory prices have started to fall in some markets. There is still a long way to go to close the AI ​​crisis

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There is a scene that repeats itself every time the market gives a truce, even if it is minimal: it is enough for the price of a key component to begin to fall for the feeling that the worst is over. This is exactly what is happening now with DDR5 memory. In recent weeks falls have been recorded in the retail channel of several markets, and that has reactivated an inevitable question among those who have been following the evolution of prices for months: whether we are facing the beginning of the end of the memory crisis or simply a one-time adjustment. An extended pressure. To understand what we are seeing now, it is advisable to broaden the focus and look at the recent path of the market. The rise in memory prices It has not only hit the user who wants to update their equipment, but also manufacturers, distributors and assemblers, in a context marked by supply and demand tensions that have been conditioning purchases and strategies for months. Therefore, we are facing a pressure scenario that has ended up affecting a good part of the hardware market. Where and how much prices are falling. Beyond perception, what there is right now is a measurable change in some shop windows. TrendForce aims to clear declines in the retail channel in several regions. In Europe, the German market recorded a monthly drop of 7.2% in March 2026, while in the United States there have been discounts of more than 20% on specific 32 GB DDR5 kits. The most striking case is China, where 16 GB modules have fallen between 25% and 30% from the peaks at the beginning of the year. A correction. Behind this adjustment there is a much more earthly explanation than it might seem. According to the analysis firm and the industry sources it cites, the main factor is less traction in consumption after months of high prices, which has led many buyers to delay decisions and distributors to accelerate the release of inventory. Added to this is a common lag between the spot market and contracts, which can take between one and two months to translate into actual shipments. The noise around TurboQuant. In parallel with this correction, an element has appeared that has fueled the debate in the market. TurboQuanta compression algorithm from Google, has been interpreted in some recent coverage as a sign that the pressure on RAM could relax. However, the most prudent readings They point in another direction, pointing out that this is an incremental improvement and not a change capable of alone altering structural demand, especially in memory for servers and loads linked to artificial intelligence, which remains high. End of the crisis? All this fits into an idea that the sector itself repeats quite clearly. From Taiwan-based memory manufacturers, contract prices have remained stable despite volatility in the retail channel, and demand in segments such as servers, DRAM and HBM remains strong, partly supported by multi-year agreements with large customers. In this context, the current correction is interpreted as a specific adjustment, not as a sufficient turnaround to consider the current episode of tension resolved. Caution and more caution. What we are seeing in some markets is a temporary relief for the consumer, yes, but everything indicates that it is a correction within a cycle still stressed by underlying factors that have not disappeared. The most optimistic forecasts speak of a progressive normalization towards the end of 2026 in some segments, while others place it even further. With this scenario, ending the memory crisis would be getting ahead of events that, for now, are still far from being confirmed. Images | Andrey Matveev In Xataka | AI urgently needs memory, so Samsung and SK are going to inject $1 billion into China

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