The cost of basic necessities in Italy has increased significantly in the last five years, according to a survey by the newspaper. Corriere della SeraThe value of a standard purchase made in 2020 will have increased by 26,4% by 2025.
The comparison was made based on two receipts from the same person. supermarket, One is from February 2020 and the other is current. The product list was identical. The total went from €66,95 to €84,60. The difference is €17,65.
Fruits and vegetables lead the price increases.
The products that increased the most in price were fruits and vegetables. Drought and climate change are among the factors putting pressure on prices. A 500-gram package of strawberries, for example, jumped from 2,19 euros to 3,98 euros — an increase of 81,7%.
Cherry tomatoes rose by 50,5%, while "mignon" type bananas had the largest price increase among the items analyzed: 154,3%. The price per kilo went from 1,84 to 4,68 euros.
Direct impact on families
The increases are happening without wages growing at the same rate. The result is a loss of purchasing power for many families. The situation is most critical for everyday consumer goods and essential foods.
Increase affects products of the Mediterranean diet.
Organization data Consumers Association Studies indicate that foods typical of the Mediterranean diet have seen the largest price increases in the last decade. Olive oil rose by 81% due to drought and increased production costs. Pasta increased by 20,7%, reaching €1,70 per kilo.
There were also price adjustments for rice, flour, and tomato passata.
Meat and protein have also become more expensive.
Smoked salmon went from 5,90 to 6,40 euros, an increase of 8,5%. Boxes of four eggs rose from 1,19 to 1,49 euros (+23%). Semi-skimmed milk now costs 1,89 euros, compared to 1,59 euros in 2020 (+18,9%).
Mineral water also became more expensive: a case of 1,5-liter bottles increased by 25%, reaching 2,88 euros.
Some prices remained stable.
Despite the widespread increase, prices remained stable for products such as beef and packaged salads. However, forecasts indicate that prices are expected to continue rising in the coming months of 2025.
