Sales in Spain

Sunday 7th sets the beggining of Sales in Spain. Lots of people will try to get good products for a cheaper price, and TV news bulletins will open with reports about hundreds of people rushing into famous stores, and talk about consumerism, materialism, and whateverisms.


Is it all an insanity caused by free market? In fact, the begining of Sales is ruled by law, both at spanish level and autonomous regions level.

Art. 25 of Law 7/1996 on Retail Trade
1. Sales can only take place twice a year; once at the beggining of year, and once during summer holidays.
2. Each sales period will last one week at least, and two months maximum, according to each merchant will and the rules of each Autonomous Region.

Therefore, it is prohibited by law to sell cheaper products before the ending of the christmas season. I guess that this is, once more, and somehow, better for consumers...

People back home after the sales