CONSUMER confidence may still be very sensitive and retailers have again complained of a slow start to winter trade, mainly because the weather was so fine last month.
But, on Sunday, there was a battle for seats at restaurants along the Paseo Mallorca.
No, there were not many tourists about, in fact I only heard people speaking Catalan or Spanish, and what I had hoped would have been a “quick bite to eat”, turned out to take over two hours.
All of the restaurants, the number of which continues to grow as the area appears to becoming a magnet for new eateries, were packed and it was early by Spanish standards.
In fact, outside two restaurants, people were queuing for tables - there were certainly no signs of a recession or people watching their euros.
Yes, maybe the Socialists are right. Perhaps the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer in the Balearics, in particular Palma, because it was hungry work just trying to find a restaurant which had a spare table.
Going to the establishment we had intended to eat at was out of the question, it was not even 2pm, but it was standing room only and no one else was out for a quick bite.
So perhaps, while the retailers complain of consumers still lacking confidence, there appears to be plenty of money when it comes to eating out and they are hungry to spend it.