How Italian households’ monthly spending is changing: nearly a third are choosing to cut back on food
Households have spent more money, but both quality and quantity have fallen. This is revealed in the Istat survey ‘Household Consumption Expenditure – Year 2025’
Key points
In 2025, Italian households spent an average of 2,782 euros a month on food, clothing, personal hygiene, medical appointments, fuel and travel. Last year’s figures remain virtually unchanged compared with those for 2024 (+€27), even taking inflation into account – which accounts for 1.6 per cent when calculated using the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). Yet, almost a third of households have cut back on their food spending, reducing either the quantity or the quality of the products they buy.
The annual analysis carried out by Istat on average monthly household expenditure on consumption provides an insight into, and allows us to track the evolution – from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective – of living standards and consumption patterns amongst the main household types, across different geographical and social contexts. Given that the distribution of consumption is ‘asymmetrical and more concentrated at the lower-middle levels’, the majority of households spend less than the average amount. Consequently, the median value – the level of consumer expenditure that divides the number of households into two equal parts – is lower than the average and stands at 2,338 euros.
What Italian households do – and don’t – spend their money on
In 2025, households spent more money on food and non-alcoholic drinks than in the previous year: 552 euros per month compared with 533. This €19 difference is also due to a 3 per cent rise in prices – the year-on-year change in the HICP. Consequently, the share of total expenditure allocated to this category rose to 19.8 per cent (compared with 19.3 per cent in 2024). Among the food items that have risen most in price are coffee (+14.6 per cent), water (+8.3 per cent), fish (+7.8 per cent), oils and fats (+6.7 per cent), teas and herbal teas (+6.7%), meat (+5.4%), milk, other dairy products and eggs (+4.2%). Whilst spending on food has risen, just under a third of households reported having cut back on food purchases, and just over a third did the same with drinks. This frugality in spending has resulted in lower quantities and/or lower quality of the products added to the shopping trolley.
Non-food expenditure remains stable, averaging 2,230 euros per month and accounting for just over 80 per cent of total expenditure. Housing, water, electricity, transport, gas and other fuels remain the items that weigh most heavily on the household budget. These are followed by expenditure on eating out and accommodation, and on personal care goods and services.
Households are, however, making an effort to spend less on clothing and footwear, as well as on travel and fuel. Personal care and hygiene are also being affected by the cutbacks, including medical appointments and check-ups.
