Spanish inflation accelerated to its highest level in almost four decades as the country continues to grapple with soaring energy prices while citizens grow impatient with the government’s efforts to control the situation. Estimated annual inflation of the consumer price index (CPI) in March was 9.8 percent, according to data from Spain’s statistics office. This is the highest rate since May 1985 and represents a more than two-point increase from February, when inflation had risen by 7.6 percent. Estimated annual rate of underlying inflation, which excludes energy and non-processed food products, was up 3.4 percent in March, the highest since September 2008. “This development is due to generalized increases in most of its components. These included increases in electricity prices, in fuels and oil prices, and in food and non-alcoholic beverages prices, higher this month than in March 2021,” the office said in a March 30 press release (pdf). The …