PESCARA. Reduction of purchased volumes, smaller formats to avoid waste even sacrificing quality, are the defense strategies adopted by families in recent years. And if it is true that we have left the peak of price increases behind us, the high cost of living continues to change our spending and consumption habits. The National Consumer Union has processed the May inflation data, which Istat released last Friday, to draw up not only the top ten monthly and annual price increases, but also the ranking of the greatest price increases compared to the pre-crisis period , that is, in mid-2021, before inflation took off.
In recent years, various products have alternated at the head of the trend increases. For example, olive oil has continuously led the annual increases from September 2023 to today, but before that, from April 2023 to August 2023, it was the turn of sugar, before that there were national flights, electricity of the free market and so on. But which of these and other products, after various ups and downs, wins the ranking of the last three years of astronomical increases? The answers come from the survey we publish.
FROM 2021 TO 2024
Ahead (see the table above) international flights which, compared to May 2021, took off by 132.3%. Silver medal for olive oil which has almost doubled in price in three years, +93.5%. On the lowest step of the podium are domestic flights with +55.1%. In fourth place sugar, +51.6%, then gas (+50.2%), rice (+45.1%), in seventh place potatoes (+43.3%), then hotels, motels and pensions (+41.5%), electricity (+39.5%). Ice cream closes the top ten with +37.8%. Also noteworthy are margarine (11th place, +37.6%), national holiday packages (12th, +36.9%), preserved milk (14th, +34.1%), butter (16 °, +33.6%), Pasta (22nd, +27.3%). Flour (29th, +24.6%), eggs and bread (30th, both at +24.5%) close the ranking.
DONA’S OPINION.
«This study shows us that, even if inflation is now low, +0.8% in May, and some products have disappeared for months from the radar of increases or are even decreasing in cost, such as pasta for example, many prices they are still unsustainable. Even though we haven’t talked about bread, eggs and flour for months, their prices, compared to normal times, are around 25 percent. Gas and electricity, far from the peaks of the fourth quarter of 2022, still cost, respectively, 50.2 and 39.5% more than the price paid before the speculation”. So he says Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers Union. «For a couple with two children, the trend inflation of 0.8% means, despite the savings on housing and electricity equal to 443 euros, an increase in the cost of living equal to 94 euros on an annual basis, even if 185 euros are only needed to cope with the 2.3% increases in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices. For a couple with 1 child”, continues Dona, “the additional annual expense is equal to 53 euros, but 168 euros more are needed for eating and drinking. The record goes to large families with more than 3 children with an increase of 220 euros just for feeding and drinking”, concludes the president of the association.
FROM MAY TO MAY
As regards the annual top ten (see the table above), olive oil is always in first place with an increase of 44.9% on May 2023. National holiday packages are in 2nd place with +20.4% , a fact that certainly does not bode well for the next summer holidays. Bronze medal for media with sound, image and video recordings (+15.8%). Closing the top ten are hotels, motels, guesthouses and the like which cost 7.8% more than last spring.
IN THE LAST MONTH
At the top of the monthly top ten (bottom right table) is fresh fruit which increases by 6.2% in just one month. Silver medal for text binding and e-book download services with +5.9%. And in 3rd place hotels, motels, guesthouses and similar with +5.3% compared to April 2024.
THE ANALYSIS OF THE CODACONS
The stability of inflation “is a positive signal for the pockets of Italians, there is currently ample margin to obtain a reduction in retail prices”. Codacons states this, commenting on the Istat data. According to the association, «the conditions which in the last two years have produced the surge in retail prices, starting from the cost of energy, no longer exist. In essence, public prices must not increase slightly, but must reverse course and start falling again, also considering the fact that in the last two years the price lists have risen by 13.8% overall, eroding the purchasing power of citizens. », concludes the president Carlo Rienzi.
THE OPINION OF ASSOUTERS.
«The Istat data on May inflation, despite recording stability in the growth of retail prices, highlight strong tensions in the hospitality and restaurant services sector, a bad sign in view of the upcoming summer holidays».
In this case, Assoutenti states this, commenting on the data provided today by the statistics institute. «While the average inflation rate stands at 0.8%, remaining stable on April, prices and rates of accommodation and catering services mark the most marked growth, equal to +4.5% on an annual basis», explains the president Gabriele Melluso«in detail, based on provisional data for May, holiday packages increased in price by +20.4% on year, hotels by +7.8%, B&Bs, holiday homes and other accommodation facilities by +8.1%, train tickets by +8.1% over the year, buses and coaches by +4%”.
«A worrying trend that is recorded at the gates of the summer period, and which anticipates the blow that, unfortunately, will hit the holidays of Italians, who will have to face significantly higher expenses for departures, stays and tourist services. For this reason we invite the government to monitor the trend of tariffs in the tourism sector with the utmost attention, adopting measures aimed at controlling price lists in the sector”, concludes Melluso.
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