According to an Al Jazeera analysis, prices in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have risen by 59% to 78% since 2000, with Spain seeing the largest increase at 78%. In 2022, all four countries recorded their highest inflation rates since at least 2000, primarily driven by soaring energy costs following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Regarding real wages, Italy experienced a nearly 5% decline between 2000 and 2025, while Spain, France, and Portugal saw increases. Housing affordability generally deteriorated, with Spain's house price-to-income ratio rising by 56% since 2000, and Portugal's by 67% since 2015. Education spending as a percentage of GDP decreased in France and Portugal, remained flat in Spain, and slightly increased in Italy.