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Major shopping chains in Spain promise to absorb IVA increases

THERE is a bit of good news for consumers as major shopping chains in Spain have promised to absorb the impending 3% IVA (VAT) increase.

Supermarket giant Mercadona, which claims 90% of its more than 8,000 lines have kept the same prices from a year ago, is the latest to announce it will not pass on the IVA increase to customers, joining other big names including, Inditex, Eroski, Carrefour, Lidl, Mango, H&M and Corefiel.

The IVA rate is set to jump this weekend from 18% to 21% with the reduced rate rising from 8% to 10%, while the super-reduced rate, which applies to fresh food staples, books or prescription drugs, will remain at 4%.

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President of the Government rules out further increases to Personal Income Tax and VAT in 2013

Mariano Rajoy is not considering further VAT or Personal Income Tax increases in the 2013 Budget and hopes not to have to take such difficult decisions for the Spanish people as those taken during the first months of his term in office.

The President of the Government also calls for greater economic and fiscal integration within the European Union; “no steps backward will be taken; not by the Euro, not by the Single Market and not by the Union”.

The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, received the President of the Republic of France, François Hollande, at Moncloa Palace on Thursday. They discussed matters on the international and bilateral agendas, including the situation in Spain and the Eurozone.

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How to Jump-Start Your Business With an Accelerator Program

Making connections was priority No. 1 for Aigerim Shorman and Shana Zheng. As founders of Triptrotting, an online community that connects travelers with locals, the pair quickly recognized that startup accelerators could be their ticket to mentorship and funding.

After raising $300,000 in seed money from Pasadena, Calif., incubator Idealab and launching their company last May, Shorman and Zheng applied to Launchpad LA, the Los Angeles accelerator program founded by venture capitalist Mark Suster. Launchpad invests $50,000 in each company accepted into its four-month program and provides business advice, free shared office space and networking opportunities.

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10,000 people attend a Night of Wine

MORE than 10,000 people gathered in Competa to enjoy the 37th edition of the ‘Noche del Vino’ (Night of Wine) and celebrate the famous regional Muscat wine.

Attendees consumed about 500 litres of the sweet wine produced from the Muscat grape which can be found almost exclusively in the Axarquia area.

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Where to Use Keywords in Corporate Blog Posts

Numerous companies start blogs to better connect with customers (but often through a narcissistic lens).  In most cases, Public Relations departments manage social media and blogging for companies which is great for promoting key messages and distributing information. That’s the Push side of PR. But the Pullis often overlooked.

Most corporate blogs are not only boring, but they’re disappointingly difficult to locate on search engines. Key messages, voice and timing are considered, but keywords to drive search traffic are not.

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Income tests for foreigners

EU citizens in Spain could face proof of income tests if they wish to reside in the country for more than three months, as the Spanish government implements what has been described as “a crackdown on migrants” as it seeks to resolve the ongoing economic crisis.
As such, municipal councils, the National Police and international embassies are urging non-Spanish nationals to familiarise themselves with the new residency requirements (they can be found on many town hall and embassy websites), which have been introduced by the Spanish government.
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Government approves extension to PREPARA Plan

The Council of Ministers has approved the extension to the Professional Re-qualification Programme (PREPARA). The measure takes retroactive effect from 16 August and will remain in force until 15 February 2013.

The extension was announced by the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, on 14 August, and was subsequently analysed with social stakeholders.

The Vice-President of the Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, pointed out that the reform of the PREPARA Plan has two objectives: firstly, that no-one without resources be left without State support and secondly, the training and reinsertion into the job market of the unemployed.

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Spain hit with new health tax

ALL residents of Spain will be required to contribute to the cost of medical prescriptions, as of last month.

Anyone making less than €18,000 per year will pay up to 40 per cent of the prescription cost, with a monthly cap at €8.

Those earning more than €18,000 will pay half the cost, with a monthly cap at €18.

While the UK will continue to pay Spain an annual cost to provide healthcare for its pensioners, British expats are not exempt from this tax.

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Junta de Andalucía object to higher IVA/VAT on golf courses

The Junta de Andalucía has asked for IVA/VAT not to be put up on golf courses.

The I.U. Councillor for Tourism and Trade, Rafael Rodríguez, has written to Central Government to complain that the IVA increase is going up from 8% to 21%.

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The Russians are coming! They have overtaken the British in some parts of Spain

In Salou for example there are more Russian tourists in the town than the British. They represented 36% of the hotel room occupation in the first half of July. The traditional British tourist no longer occupied 30% of the Salou rooms. Hotel reservations in the town for the first half od July were 458,194, up 3.3% on last year.

Between them the Russians and Britons together make up 80% of the August occupation in the Valencia region, according to the Tourism Councillor, Dolores Johnson. She said Benidorm is expected to reach a 93% accommodation level in August, while Alicante will be 74% and the Castellón coast will be about 70%.

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