Refueling is becoming a “luxury item” for a significant portion of the population. Whether in Spain or any other country in the euro area, pumping gasoline today, as of 2026, costs practically double what it did at the beginning of the century. That is to say, in just 25 years we have gone from filling the tank at less than 0.80 euros, to doing so at approximately 1.70 euros.
Gasoline turned into a symptom of the disease
We are reaching the end of a stage, or that is at least what the majority of political, social and economic experts agree on. Factors such as public debt, the multiple war conflicts that are currently open, as well as the arrival of new (and worrying) technologies based on Artificial Intelligence, have caused the global geostrategic map to change on an epic scale.
In the middle of this maelstrom we are ordinary citizens who suffer firsthand the rise in prices of absolutely everything, including fuel. However, in the last 5 years, after the post-COVID era, this trend has magnified in a worrying way. In any case, looking back we can see how In 2002, the average price for a liter of gasoline was 0.76 euros per liter. In 2026 at 1.70 euros.
The rule of three that never fails
Many will say that at the beginning of this century salaries in Spain (this can be extrapolated to any part of Europe) were lower than today. In 2002 the average salary was 18,601 euros per year, that is, 1,550 euros per month.. In 2026, according to official data it is 27,336 gross euros. As we see, this figure, a priori, has grown although the economic reality is far from what initially appears.
Into this equation we must add a “silent tax” called inflation. In the same period of time, between 2002 and 2026 accumulated inflation is around 80%so for you and me to have the same purchasing power as then, we would have to earn around at 34,000 euros. If we apply this same formula with respect to the price of gasoline, this figure should exceed 36,000 euros per year.
A difficult problem to solve
I suppose that the majority of those who read the SMN chronicles with attention and devotion are quite far from that amount. Otherwise, you can feel lucky, since the price of gasoline, despite being double what it was 25 years ago, does not affect your pocket based on the data described above. It is not in vain that the problem with fuel has become something structural given our energy dependence.
Factors such as the disproportionate tax rate we pay for each liter of gasoline come into play here, between 45 and 55% of the total price. Although in specific moments of economic pressure reductions have been approved on this concept, the reality is that in the short and medium term everything indicates that we will continue paying for gasoline at an increasingly higher price.
Few solutions, as explained by media specialized in the matter, although the government assures that in September they will apply a reduction of up to 20 cents per liter. Let’s cross our fingers.
