Censis: 14 million Italians give up restaurants because of inflation
According to the third Italgrob-Censis Report, one in two families has cut consumption and the high cost of living is perceived at 20% per year by 16% of Italians
2' min read
2' min read
The official data says that inflation is slowing down and the increases that families have to endure are certainly not those recorded in 2022 and 2023, but prices certainly have not fallen and the crisis in purchasing power is being felt to the point that, according to Censis surveys, 16% of the population is convinced that 'in Italy inflation is galloping above 20%' and more than half believe that prices are destined to rise further.
Despite the fact that the restaurant industry is one of the sectors that seems to have held up better than others to the crisis (thanks also to the boom in tourism, according to Fipe-Confcommercio turnover has returned to pre-Covid levels by 2023), the first expenses to be cut are those of leisure, with almost one Italian in two (48.9%) stating that they "had to give up one or more times a year" breakfast at the bar or a meal at a restaurant "because of inflation".
These are some of the findings of the third Censis Italgrob report - the Italian Federation of Horeca Distributors (hotels, restaurants and cafés, basically the eating out sector) - presented at the Senate, which shows how for 83.4% of Italians the presence of places where they can meet is important for their wellbeing, but because of inflation 14 million Italians have given up eating out. Among the reasons: price rises, cutbacks in spending, less money available, and a preference for conviviality at home. The desire to eat out is nevertheless very strong among Italians, with 60.7% wishing they could go to restaurants, bars, wine bars, trattorias more in the coming months.
The study highlights the importance of conviviality, "as a primary need and desire of people and as a decisive component of collective well-being". Therefore, "not penalising the out-of-home sector is a good choice for the economy and for enhancing the Italian diversity of a higher quality of collective life, so much appreciated abroad".
For 90.8% of Italians, places of relationality, such as those outside the home, are vital because they preserve a plus of Italian society such as conviviality. Moreover, 72.5% are convinced that being a society with many places for meeting and conviviality means being less exposed to conflict and violence, while 87% believe that being able to meet in physical places makes one accustomed to accepting people with different ideas.
