That morning coffee might be telling us more than we realise. As Gibraltar prepares for Treaty-related change and rising business costs, we explore how behavioural psychology shapes the way customers spend, why habits quietly become decisions, and what local businesses can do to keep delivering value when every purchase starts to feel more considered.

As we approach the expected provisional application of the Treaty on 15 July 2026, one of the unresolved questions is: what happens to the businesses, entrepreneurs and economically active individuals who want to relocate here but cannot yet see a clear route through the residency system?

What could the Gibraltar–EU Treaty really mean for property? In this detailed piece, James Barton shares AI-led insights that point to a more measured recovery, not a sudden boom. The takeaway: residential may lead, commercial follows more selectively, and everything depends on how well the treaty is implemented.

From cocoa price spikes hitting bakeries to wholesalers reworking supply chains and retailers warning that increases are inevitable, David Revagliatte speaks to businesses across sectors about the real maths behind the Treaty. With Transaction Tax replacing import duties and margins already tight, some are absorbing what they can. Others say that is no longer realistic.

This week, we are sharing a Letter to the Editor published in Monday’s Gibraltar Chronicle by local business owner Jimmy Coelho. With his permission, we are bringing it to our subscribers because the issues he raises touch on two major pillars of Gibraltar’s economy: gaming and retail. Both sit at the centre of current debates about competitiveness, cross border trade and enforcement.

The cable car isn’t just a huge tourist attraction for Gibraltar – it’s a vital part of our tourist transport infrastructure.  Just as we plan to remove the border, and enjoy what many expect to be a visitor boom, the cable car will close.  GFSB Member, tourism business operator, and Upper Rock enthusiast Stuart Hedley of EBike Gibraltar asks – what’s the plan for plugging this major gap in our tourism transport strategy? And are we underselling this amazing tourist product short by whizzing our visitors through it, rather than upselling the whole product as being worthy of a lengthy visit or even a multiple day experience? 

It started with a quick online search. I was trying to find where exactly my next meeting was on Main Street and turned to Google Street View to check the building's exterior. I found the address easily enough, but what caught my attention wasn’t the office itself. It was the virtual street around it. I noticed that several shops visible in the digital snapshot had changed. Curious, I kept scrolling through the online streetscape, mentally comparing what I saw on screen with what I knew to be true today.

This week started with a leftfield surprise. The sudden publication of new regulations led to a temporary halt in the registration of new residency applications in Gibraltar. The move came without any accompanying press release or explanatory note, leaving the business community and many GFSB members in a state of confusion. It was only after follow-up coverage from GBC that additional information emerged, setting out the Government’s rationale.

For decades, our economy has thrived as a bastion of Britishness and British goods are at the heart of what makes Gibraltar unique. But could aligning with EU regulations including tariffs on UK imports mean it's time to wave adios to British goods?