The initiative, launched to counteract the economic impact of the pandemic, mobilized 7.5 million euros in citizen spending with a public cost of 4 million in 2021. Many Catalan municipalities have successfully replicated the model, including Vic, Abrera, Rubí, El Prat de Llobregat, Castellar del Vallès, and Badalona, which distributed 400,000 euros in 'Badabons' in just two hours.

The relaunch of the 'Bonus Consum' aligns with Barcelona's tenure as European Capital of Local Commerce 2026, which lasts until December. The deputy mayor, Raquel Gil, confirmed to this newspaper that the new batch of vouchers will be "agreed with the sector," which views the measure favorably for its ability to "boost consumption" and support the nearly 150,000 local commerce employees in the city.

Sector sources indicate that discussions are "nearing completion," and they have requested that the new vouchers do not coincide with Christmas and sales campaigns, proposing October and November as the most suitable months. Large chains and franchises will remain excluded, but technical innovations are being considered, such as outsourcing management or establishing new requirements to prevent illicit hoarding, similar to incidents in 2021 where one citizen redeemed 169 vouchers.

The initial rollout saw one million euros in vouchers exhausted within hours, with 280,000 vouchers offered that lasted two weeks, followed by another 100,000 that disappeared in less than a day. While 93% of consumers used fewer than six vouchers, extreme cases highlighted the need for improved restrictions for the upcoming edition.