Rome, September 12, 2025 — The price of food products in Italy has risen by over 30% compared to 2019. The most significant increase occurred between late 2021 and early 2023, followed by a slower but steady rise in the following months.
Key figures at a glance
- The consumer price index for food grew by 30.1% in Italy from 2019 to July 2025.
- In Europe, the average increase was higher: +39.2%.
- Among major countries, Germany recorded +40.3%, Spain +38.2%, while France saw a smaller increase: +27.5%.
Impact on inflation
Food items account for 88.5% of the so-called “shopping basket” of goods.
This surge in food prices has significantly driven up inflation for everyday spending. In July, the gap between the growth of the shopping basket index and the overall consumer price index exceeded +3% year-on-year, and it widened further in August.
Comparison with energy and other sectors
While food prices continue to climb, the overall price trend — which also includes the energy sector — shows a different dynamic. Energy prices, being highly volatile, have alternately boosted and eased inflation but have not been the main driver of food price increases. The gap between food inflation and the general consumer index reached around 1.9 percentage points in August, up sharply from +0.2 points in March 2025.
Why prices have risen so much
Key reasons include:
- Rising global agricultural commodity prices
- Increases in transport, energy, and logistics costs
- Strong post-pandemic demand, which created market tensions
- Sticky prices: even as commodity costs dropped, higher production costs continued to weigh on final prices
Consequences for consumers
A 30% rise in food prices means that households with lower incomes are especially vulnerable: a growing share of their budget is allocated to food, leaving less room for other purchases or savings.
Looking ahead: why investing is crucial
With prices rising faster than wages, protecting purchasing power has become essential. Investing in financial instruments suited to one’s risk profile allows savings to grow in line with inflation, preventing them from losing value year after year. The earlier you start, the more time works in your favor, thanks to the power of compounding.
