Face masks are now part of Spain’s inflation index basket

Spain is struggling with inflation that is close to the highest in three decades. Prices climbed 6.1% rise in January

Masks are widely worn in Spain, and are mandatory in most indoor public spaces. File Picture: Pexels

Spain has included the cost of facemasks in its list of articles to gauge inflation, in the latest example of the far-reaching impact of the pandemic.

The consumer price index basket is revised periodically and updated to “include new products whose consumption starts to be significant,” the national statistics institute said in a statement Monday. It also added online newspaper subscriptions, while dropping DVDs and compact discs.