A worrying increase in inflation
In October, inflation in Italy increased significantly, with the consumer price index rising to 0.9%, compared to 0.7% in the previous month. This increase is mainly attributable to the food sector, where prices showed an accelerating trend dynamic, going from +1.1% to +2.4%. Istat has highlighted how this increase is reflected in the shopping cart, which saw an increase of 2% compared to 1% in September
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The consequences for Italian families
Consumer associations, such as Codacons and the National Consumer Union (UNC), have expressed concern about the impact of these increases on household budgets. According to the calculations made, a family with two children could face an increase in spending of about 228 euros per year just for the purchase of food and drink. This increase is considered a real sting for Italian families, already tried by a difficult economic environment
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The shopping cart and the essentials
The president of the UNC, Massimiliano Dona, emphasized that the increase in prices is not only a temporary phenomenon, but a worrying acceleration that affects food goods in particular. The data shows that the shopping cart went from an increase of 1% to 2% in a month, with food products seeing a jump from +1.2% to +2.5%. This scenario highlights how costs for families are increasing significantly, with a direct impact on their spending capacity
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Concerns for the future
Gabriel Debach, market analyst at eToro, warned that, although general inflation remains relatively low compared to other European countries, increases in essential goods represent a sign of tension that cannot be ignored. With winter just around the corner and an economy slowing down, the risk is that household purchasing power will decline further. Experts warn that the coming months will be crucial to assess whether support measures are needed to protect the most vulnerable citizens
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