Table of Contents
This week is Easter week, one of the most important religious celebrations in Spain, and so there will be lots of themed activities surrounding that, but it also means a relatively quiet week in the world of business and the news from Spain.
It’s not going to be so quiet on the roads however, so the special Easter traffic operation continues, and we will have a varied holiday schedule depending where you are, but as we are based in the Torrevieja area, we will look at that in particular.
Monday
The week will begin with the publication in Spain of the industrial price index for February. After registering a 3.8% year-on-year drop in January, the consensus of analysts expects a slight recovery in prices in the sector driven by the lower base effect, the gradual normalisation of the global value chain and the greater than expected dynamism of the Spanish economy.
In Spain, tourist occupation and company figures are set to be released by the INE.
Over the pond, Monday is the deadline for Donald Trump to post bond for the more than $460 million following a civil fraud judgment against him in February.
In the UK, the Commons debates an e-petition on the James Bulger inquiry, and BMA junior doctor strikes begin in Wales.
FULL MOON ALERT (08:00) – If you know, you know!!!
Tuesday
Tuesday the 26th brings the final reading of the fourth quarter of Spain’s GDP. The preliminary reading indicated an increase in quarterly terms of 0.6%, in line with the good projections of the main international organisations.
Residential tourism figures and the Service Sector figures will also be published in Spain.
At the same time, we will also know the GFK consumer confidence indicator in Germany in April, in a context marked by the deterioration of the economic activity of the leading European power reflected in the decline of the PMI indicator of the manufacturing sector.
Tuesday brings the rising of the House of Commons in the UK for Easter.
Wednesday
On Wednesday we will know the evolution of consumer confidence in the Eurozone for March, and the advance CPI for March and retail sales in Spain.
In the UK on Wednesday the news will no doubt be dominated by Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, as one of his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, brings a financial claim against the convicted abuser for the ‘severe and profound’ consequences of his abuse, committed when she was just 12.
In Spain, the second phase of the special traffic operation begins, and we will have figures for consumer and commercial activities.
Thursday
Thursday the 28th will highlight the publication of the indicator relating to the evolution of retail sales in Germany. After registering a fall of 1.4% in year-on-year terms in January, commercial sales data in February are expected to continue showing the complex scenario facing the German economy in this first part of the year.
The UK National Accounts (third estimate GDP) are also published on Thursday.
Thursday also marks a year since Paul O’Grady passed away.
Thursday is a holiday in some places in Spain, others celebrate their second Easter holiday on Monday. Locally, Thursday is a holiday in Elche, Orihuela, Daya Nueva and Crevillente. The Valencia Region previously celebrated Holy Thursday as a holiday but this year have move to Monday instead.
Friday
Friday is Good Friday, a holiday in Spain, but the week will end with the preliminary reading of the CPI for France and Italy, which are expected to continue with the convergent trend towards the objectives set by the ECB observed in recent months.
Friday in the UK marks the 10th anniversary of the first same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Weekend
Finally, just a little jump forward to Easter weekend, because not only is it the celebration of Easter, but it’s also when the clocks go forward one hour in the early hours of Sunday morning. Sunday 27 October is when we next make the change back.
Final, final point. There will not be a Week Ahead bulletin next week due to the holiday weekend, but you can still catch daily updates, holidays excepted, on marknolanspodcast.com, and get your daily updates on both spaintoday.news and theleader.info.
Things to do
It’s Easter week and so there will be lots of events themed largely around the religious commemoration, with parades through most towns and cities being the focus for many people. Wednesday and Thursday offer the most important and emotional processions for many of those who follow the story, and then on Sunday next week.
As a result of the Easter period, we do have a national holiday on Friday, and a second holiday celebrated on either Thursday or Monday, depending on where you are. Monday 8 is also a local holiday in many places, San Vicente, including Torrevieja.
Coming up
In Torrevieja, the latest book fair is on all week and through the weekend, with some 8 booths selling books and offering readings and signings throughout the week.
World Theatre Day is celebrated on Wednesday in Torrevieja with a special event at the Virgen del Carmen Centre.
Sports fans in Torrevieja have another football competition this week, on the 28 to 31, and handball on the same weekend.
For runners, Crevillente on 6 April has a 6k race, and the Dama de Guardamar half marathon, which takes the form of both a 10k and 21k variant, and will take place in Guardamar del Segura on 14 April 2024.
Looking ahead, on 26 April there is a film music tribute concert taking place in the International Auditorium in Torrevieja, specifically a tribute to the music of Morricone, Williams, and Zimmer, three of the greatest film score composers of modern times, arguably.
The Film Symphony Orchestra will also perform in Torrevieja on 26 May, offering music from the likes of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Mulan.
In the El Raso area of Guardamar del Segura on 11 to 14 April you can celebrate with the Neighbourhood Party, including a Tapas Trail, and a dog show.
Fans of the music of Queen might want to take a trip down to Cartagena on 20 April, where the concert, Symphonic Rhapsody of Queen, A Kind of Magic, will be taking place.
Sticking with big-name music, James Blunt is back in Alicante on 19 July, as is Tom Jones on 25. Other popular groups coming to Spain in the near future include AC/DC, Depeche Mode, and Simple Minds.
Aircraft fans can look forward to the Patrulla Aguila aerobatic team performing locally in the San Javier Airshow, taking place from 3rd-5th May – Festival Aéreo San Javier – over the playas de Santiago de la Ribera, San Javier, Murcia. They are also at the DIFAS 2024, taking place in Oviedo on 1 June, and on 15th June, the 50º Aniversario del ALA 14, in Albacete, where a competition is open to design a Eurofighter livery.
The Patrulla Acrobática de Paracaidismo del Ejército del Aire (PAPEA) parachutists perform on 31st March at the Conmemoración de “El Encuentro” de Alcantarilla, in Murcia, before the team head overseas in April to attend the 5th FAI World Indoor Skydiving Championship, in Macau, China.
Down in Los Alcazares on the Mar Menor there is an unusual and unique horse-based event on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March, the XXIII Incursiones Berberiscas en Mar Menor, a medieval tournament pitching knights against knights on the beaches of the town.
Follow Mark Nolan´s Podcast for updates on your favourite platform.