"I didn't realize what was happening until I turned on the radio," explains a young woman from Madrid, who recounts that she wasn't truly aware of the seriousness of the blackout until she noticed the unusual 'silence' of her mobile phone. At 12:33 on Monday, April 28, a power outage occurred affecting the entire Spanish territory, which was not resolved until at least ten hours later.
"There was a moment when I realized I hadn't received any WhatsApp messages or notifications from any social media for a long time, and it seemed strange to me," confesses the young woman, who preferred to remain anonymous. "I tried to call my mother, but there was no signal either. I didn't know what to do, and the longer it took, the more nervous I became. I ended up going out to the street and saw a group of people listening to a radio. Thanks to them, I found out about the situation and immediately went to buy one."
The radio became a great ally in the midst of the chaos caused by the blackout, which left almost the entire country without electricity or internet connection, to the point that it sold out in practically all Spanish stores, bazaars, and hardware stores. The portal Milanuncios recorded significant spikes in demand starting at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, just as the light began to return in several locations in the country. In this regard, the price comparison website Idealo indicated that searches for radios and radio equipment surged by 205% and 180%, respectively.
But the high demand also had a direct impact on prices. According to an analysis conducted by this newspaper, based on the best-selling radio models on Amazon yesterday, prices increased by between 15.8% and 63.6% in less than 24 hours. The top-selling mini radio BC-R119 went from 9.59 euros before the major blackout to 15.69 euros yesterday with almost 100% of the electricity supply restored. Also, the Xhdata D220 model, sold out, increased from 15.98 euros to 20.98 euros within hours. Furthermore, the price surge occurred precisely after 8:00 p.m. in most cases. "I bought a small battery-powered radio when they started talking about the European Union survival kit for 15 dollars, today I searched for the same one and it was already around 17 dollars," said a woman.
In addition to radios, other items that are part of the so-called survival kit have also experienced high demand in the last few hours. The Federation of Electrical Appliance Retailers (FECE) points out that "portable radios, flashlights, batteries, and gas stoves were sold out in many stores by late afternoon. In a few hours, the equivalent of what is usually sold in a month was purchased." They also highlight that "in many stores, due to the inability to use POS terminals because of the lack of electricity, professionals opted to extend credit or write down purchases, once again demonstrating the trust and closeness that characterize this business model."
Online purchases also significantly increased as household electricity supply was restored. According to Idealo data, searches for electricity generators multiplied by seven, registering a growth of 639% in just one day. Similarly, camping gas stoves experienced a 547% increase, which is six times their daily demand. Additionally, interest in solar panels also surged after the blackout, with a 400% increase in searches since Monday, reflecting citizens' concern for alternative energy sources. Other products such as candles, batteries, and portable chargers also became essential in a situation like the one experienced on Monday.
These products were not spared from price hikes either, as observed by this newspaper. The gas stove, one of the best-selling items yesterday, increased by almost 5% in less than 24 hours, from 41.98 dollars before the power outage to 43.98 dollars on Amazon yesterday. A two-euro increase. Flashlights and headlamps also rose by two to three dollars.