The current economic environment
In recent years, Italian families have faced increasing difficulty in managing their monthly budget. Inflation and the rising cost of living have made daily expenses increasingly burdensome. According to recent data, more than 56% of the family budget is allocated to essential expenses such as food, fuel and utilities. This scenario has led to a restructuring of economic priorities, where unnecessary expenses are increasingly being overlooked
.
Analysis of monthly expenses
A detailed analysis of monthly expenses reveals that, on average, an Italian family spends about 1,191 euros on food, household maintenance and transportation. Of these, 526 euros are intended for the purchase of food and beverages, 374 euros cover household expenses and 291 euros are used for fuel and public transport. Added to these expenses are an additional 937 euros for complementary expenses, bringing the total to 2,128 euros per month. The regional differences are significant, with the Northwest recording higher expenses than the South
.
The consequences on the holidays
As the Christmas holidays approach, Italian families find themselves having to reconsider their expenses. Spending on Christmas gifts is expected to decline, which could fall to about 10 billion euros in 2024, marking a 9% drop compared to the previous year. This decrease is attributable to lower economic availability and the need to concentrate resources on obligatory expenses. In addition, many Italians are anticipating Christmas shopping to take advantage of Black Friday promotions, with an increasing number of people ready to spend
during this week.
