03.46 - Spain Today News 10 October 2026

🇪🇸 Spain Today News Summary: 10 October 20261. Bank of Spain Housing & Economic OutlookThe Bank of Spain has raised its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 2.6% (and 2.2% for 2027) driven by private consumption, job creation, and population growth. However, it warns that residential construction is failing to keep pace with demand due to scarce build-ready land, labor shortages, administrative delays, and power grid connection bottlenecks. Average construction times now near three years, with the housing deficit projected to expand from 750,000 to nearly one million over the next two years. Inflation is forecast at 3.9% for 2026 and 3.7% for 2027, with high energy prices expected this winter due to the Middle East conflict.2. Farm Associations Call Tractor Protest in MadridSpain's major agricultural associations—ASAJA, COAG, and Unión de Uniones—have called a tractor demonstration in Madrid for 28 October, marching to the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers are protesting surging input costs for fuel, electricity, feed, and fertilizers exacerbated by the Iran war. Their key demands include a shock plan with permanent tax rebates on agricultural diesel at the pump, a fully funded Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), strict enforcement of the Food Chain Law for fair prices, reciprocal standards on foreign imports (such as Mercosur and Morocco), and a reduction in administrative paperwork.3. Morocco's King Addresses Ceuta Border CrisisIn an address to Morocco's Parliament, King Mohamed VI addressed the July migrant crisis in Ceuta, during which around 80,000 migrants crossed the border. The monarch rejected pressure or blackmail, denouncing "exploitation" by certain Spanish political and media circles. He stated that current bilateral cooperation models have reached their limits, pointing to judicial decisions and legal frameworks that impede the repatriation of minors and false refugee claimants. His remarks come ahead of an official visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Ceuta and Melilla on 13 October.4. Pilar Holiday Bridge: 5.76 Million Road Trips ExpectedSpain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has launched its special holiday operation for the Pilar long weekend, projecting 5.76 million long-distance road journeys through 12 October. Heavy congestion is expected during peak exit times on Friday afternoon and return travel on Monday evening. Transport hubs are seeing high traffic: Adif has scheduled 4,230 high-speed and long-distance train services, while Aena airports expect 27,744 flight operations over the four-day period. Fuel prices have dropped slightly but remain elevated, with petrol averaging €1.78/L and diesel €1.88/L.