The uncertainty retracts to the consumer. And that’s one of the variables that slows down recovery . The first symptom has been the 0.5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter, as announced by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) last Friday.

The calendar in the vaccination process and the succession of waves of the covidcontinues to undermine the mood of consumers who see how the economic recovery extends beyond 2021. 54% of the Spanish consulted consider it this way, according to the report ‘Future Consumer Index’ entitled ‘Deconstructing the consumer in a post-vaccination environment’ prepared by the consulting firm EY.

This percentage is four tenths higher than in the survey carried out in October, compared to Germans and Americans who are more optimistic . The government itself admitted in the revision of its economic forecasts that the recovery will be delayed at least until the second quarter due to the third wave of the virus.

The pandemic continues to worry, not only because of the impact it is having both on the economic situation (for 73% of them) and on the health of families (61%), but also because of how it is affecting the way of life.

In this environment dominated by uncertainty, the tendency to save continues to grow , which does so by five points, while 42% say that their income continues to decline and 73% do not consider that this income will improve in the next 12 months. The savings rate was at its highest level since 1999, according to the INE.

“The Spanish economy needs a consumer willing to return to his routine and recover his spending levels and this seems to not come until the vaccination process gains momentum and the majority of the population is immunized.

Meanwhile, we are facing a new paradigm in which consumers have not only increased their consumption at home, but are also beginning to build their lifestyle around their home ”, explains Javier Vello , partner in charge of the sector of ‘ Consumer Products & Retail ‘by EY.

From the conclusions of the survey, the predisposition of consumers to measures such as a health certificate is also deduced , with six out of ten respondents who are in favor of using the plane or a cruise ship, as well as going to shows, hairdressers or gyms without being already vaccinated is a requirement to access. In these types of activities where social distance is difficult to achieve, it is where the consumer continues to feel uncomfortable.

But, in addition, it lowers the level of “comfort” by six points in activities such as going to a supermarket or grocery stores. On the other hand, it improves the feeling of security when going to work and school.

And in this context, digitization advances . “The consumer continues to move towards greater use of digital channels, reducing their visits to physical establishments, reducing their spending on non-essential products (such as fashion or cosmetics) or, even, is willing to change brands to support the economy or local businesses.

The awareness we have been talking about is reflected in a citizen more responsible and concerned about their physical and mental health, paying more attention to issues such as food, quality time and social and environmental impact . On the other hand, the figures show a more cautious and economical consumer ”, explains David Samu , partner in charge of EY-Parthenon.

The ‘Future Consumer Index’ report periodically monitors changes in consumer sentiment and behavior, identifying new consumption patterns. For this edition, more than 14,400 consumers from 20 countries were interviewed during the first quarter of 2021, of which 530 are Spanish.

Wayne Griffiths, from the Montecarlo hotel to Barcelona’s Eixample. The president of Seat is in love with Barcelona and everything that the city emanates. He has drawn a lot of personal and professional inspiration from the city.

Wayne Griffiths (Dukinfield, England, 1966). He first landed in Barcelona in 1991 to work at Seat after starting at the Volkswagen Group in 1989. He lived through the Olympic Games, at the wheel of his red Seat Toledo. Today, 30 years later, he presides over the largest automobile company in Spain.

Things in life, upon arrival he stayed “in the old Hotel Montecarlo, it was March 1991 and it was cold, there were no people on the Ramblas.” Today, in the same place, are the offices of Seat CODE, the company’s software division . “If someone told me then that he would end up as president of Seat and with an office in that same place, I would have called him crazy.”

Barcelona has always attracted him. He has even rehabilitated an apartment in the Eixample. He went to Audi, but came back five years ago. He has always been drawn to the city . “It has enormous potential. It has light, design, youth, optimism . How many large European cities are by the sea? Very few.”

Rebellious and contemporary
Movie and music lover . Fan of Bowie and Almodovar (when he arrived in Barcelona they premiered ‘High heels’). His style is reflected in the Cupra brand. ” Rebel, I defy the conventional, I am contemporary . Like Cupra . I love design, you can see it (shows his jacket and sneakers).

I like to go to the Liceo, to the concerts of the Jardins de Pedralbes, when I was young I went out to party and then I went to have breakfast at the Palau de la Música to listen to the Barcelona Orchestra. Where is there something like this in the world? Nowhere . “

The Federal Reserve maintains the rates after highlighting the economic improvement in the US. The central bank leaves interest rates intact, which range between 0% and 0.25%.

The Fed notes that employment and activity have been strengthened thanks to vaccination and public aid.

No change on the immediate horizon. The Federal Reserve has maintained interest rates in the United States and the massive asset purchase programs launched during the pandemic to lower the costs of financing companies and homes.

The central bank led by Jerome Powell has stressed at the end of its monthly meeting that both employment and economic activity ” have strengthened” thanks to progress in the vaccination campaign and injections of public money to stimulate the economy .

And although inflationregistered in March its largest monthly increase since August 2018, the Fed considers that it is still below the desired target and will continue to promote activity with accommodative policies .

At its March meeting, the central bank endorsed the optimism that has gripped the US economy, raising growth projections for this year to 6.5% of GDP from the 4.2% anticipated in December, projections that coincide with those of the International Monetary Fund .

Its economists then indicated that they intend to keep rates low until well into 2023, a claim that reflects the scant concern that the expected increase in inflation has generated so far among its members. These rates currently range between 0% and 0.25% , a very low scale in historical terms, typical of times of crisis such as the current one.

“Amid the progress in vaccinations and strong political support, indicators show that economic activity and employment have strengthened, ” said the Fed statement. Although more than eight million Americans have not yet recovered the jobs they lost during the pandemic, almost a million jobs were created in March , a figure that underpins the pace of the recovery.

“The course of the economy will depend significantly on the trajectory of the virus , including the rate of vaccination. The ongoing health crisis continues to hamper the economy and risks remain, ”the document adds.

Saba has reached an agreement in principle with the logistics company Districenter (Holding M. Condeminas) to become a shareholder in the operator Geever , specialized in last-mile distribution , and which currently has warehouses in five Barcelona car parks on the network of Saba, with a forecast of increasing them to nine.

During the Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting, held online this Wednesday in Barcelona, ​​the President of Saba, Salvador Alemany, and the CEO, Josep Martínez Vila, announced this operation, which will culminate in the coming weeks , and which gives continuity to the parking model that Saba has been promoting for years: mobility service hubs that take advantage of their strategic locations in city centers, their capillarity and uninterrupted service to work as an integrated agent in mobility of people (electric vehicle, sharing, one-person mobility) and goods (last mile).

Alemany explained that the collaboration with Geever for more than two years has resulted in the reduction of failed deliveries – the so-called absurd logistics – by half (15% of all deliveries that do not reach their destination and that represent nine million trips, mostly in vans only in Barcelona and Madrid).

The entry of goods in the car parks, converted into distribution microhubs , takes place at night, and the exit, with sustainable and single-person vehicles, a sustainable model that contributes to this reduction in congestion and pollution.

For his part, Martínez Vila added that Saba contributes to the culture of collecting purchases over the Internet at e-commerce ticket offices , which also allow them to be returned, ” reducing traffic in city centers and the pollution , in line with sustainable microdistribution “.

Despite the impact of the health crisis, the company’s income reached 198 million euros at the end of 2020 (-34%) and Ebitda, 72 million euros (-48%). In the same way, rotation activity has decreased by 47% and the number of subscribers, by 15%, as a result of the pandemic and the mobility restrictions imposed by government authorities.

Saba is positioned as a reference operator that manages 387,000 parking spaces in 1,155 car parks in 182 cities in 9 countries. In addition, it has 1,250 sharing spaces in Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy and Chile, and 400 electric charging points in five countries: Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Chile and Italy.

In addition, Saba has launched together with Endesa ParkElectric , the first commercial product on the market designed for subscribers and that includes a reserved space and the linked charging service.

The sticker provides data such as the size of the wheel, the load index and its speed.

This Saturday, May 1, the new European tire label came into force , so from now on all newly acquired tires must incorporate this new sticker, which offers more information to European consumers and will allow them to save about 2,800 million of euros per year in fuel.

As reported by the Tire Manufacturers Association (Afane) , the objective of this new labeling is to make it easier to understand, especially in relation to safety and sustainability.

This new sticker provides information on data related to the quality of the product and aims to help users and professionals in the sector to know characteristics about fuel consumption, adherence to the road or noise pollution .

In this sense, the new labels include different novelties and complementary information compared to the current label, such as a scale change in the information on energy efficiency and grip on wet roads , as well as a pictogram for grip on ice and grip on snow. .

Data on the external noise of the tires and a QR code are also added in which all the information of the product, different classifications of the tires and data on their manufacturing process are available.

In addition, the stickers must include information on the name of the manufacturer, the identification of the tire, as well as its dimensions, load capacity and speed .

“The new label coincides with the commitment to sustainability and the reinforcement of road safety of manufacturers. There is increasing sensitivity in all levels of society for sustainable mobility and this new design informs more and better about tires at the ordinary citizens and the professionals of the sector themselves “, stressed the director of Afane, José Luis Rodríguez .

Will I have to change tires?
In no case will the new regulations oblige motorists to change the tires of their vehicles. What happens is that, from now on, they will have more information when they go to buy new ones.

What tires does it affect?
The new regulation will apply to C1 tires, C2 tires and, as a novelty, to C3 tires (for heavy vehicles), which were not included in the previous Community guideline.

Reduction of CO2 emissions
According to estimates by the European Union Research Service, the implementation of the new labels will reduce 10 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while information on energy efficiency will save consumers up to 2,800 million euros a year in fuel.