A dearer and poorer Christmas. From the table to the gifts: this is how much we will spend

Milan, November 30, 2021 – Un More expensive Christmas and poorer. The race ofinflation (3.8% in November) is likely to turn into a freeze on the Holidays with the Italians who, compared to forecasts a few weeks ago, will reduce expenses from supermarket trolleys to dinners, from trips to gifts.

Thirteenth impoverished

They will arrive in the pockets of workers and retirees 36.4 billion with the thirteenth. But for Federconsumatori only 9.7% will remain in the pockets of families for gifts, lunches, dinners and travels. In fact, a large part will be destined to repay loans, mortgages and installments (26.1% of the total); paying bills and utilities (24.3%), taxes (16.1%), motor vehicle liability (14.2%) while 9.6% (about 3.5 billion) will be eroded by the increase in prices. For this, estimate Assoutenti, families will give up on average 230 euros of purchases, from the table to gifts.

Consumption cooled

In December, Mariano Bella, director of the Research Department, warns Confcommercio, with an increase in inflation of around 4%, 4.5-5 billion of consumption could be lost which otherwise could have reached 80 billion. After all, before buying the new coat you pay the heating bill! The dear-energy, adds Bella, it will continue to have a drag-on effect food goods and beverages with the index at 1.7% in November but destined to grow further in the coming months. A limited increase today, Coldiretti warns, because agricultural businesses, throttled by the increase in production costs, are often forced to sell below cost.

More expensive gifts

The price effect also affected i Christmas Gifts, from toys to decorations. And even fir trees for which, even for a lower national production, warns Lorenzo Bazzana, Coldiretti’s economic manager, there could be increases compared to an average price in 2020, for smaller ones, between 10 and 60 euros. The Codacons estimates an increase of about 1.4 billion from the plus 5% of gifts to 10% of panettone and pandoro, from the plus 2.7% of fresh and dried fruit to the 2.5% increase for fish, meat and cured meats up to 1.5% of wines and sparkling wines. So for gifts this year, Assoutenti estimates, the budget should be reduced by 12% compared to 169 euros in 2019.

Shopping in the cart

For the holiday tables about 5 billion are spent on Assoutenti. An expense that rewards the supermarket trolleys which, Federdistribuzione warns, have curbed the expensive prices to 1.4%. And, announced Giorgio Santambrogio, CEO of the VéGé group and vice president of Federdistribuzione, they will do so with promotions even at Christmas. To contain the increases, in the face of double-digit requests for price list adjustments by suppliers, around 2%. As for revenue expectations, it is difficult to make comparisons on 2020 taking into account that a year ago there was a lockdown.

Lunches and dinners

Christmas and New Year 2021 should therefore register one strong resumption of lunches and dinners outside the home for about 7.2 billion, explains Luciano Sbraga, head of the Fipe Studies Office. But will we spend more or less at the restaurant? Inflation in catering was contained in November at 2.4% and more or less this, with some exceptions, should be, adds Sbraga, the percentage of price increases for lunches and dinners whose average cost in 2019 was 56 and 80 EUR.

Travel & vacation

A more expensive Christmas is also announced for the holidays, from those in the mountains to the Maldives. The fault of the expensive-fuels, from about 12 euros more in full to the increase in airline tickets up to less competition, recalls Stefano Dall’Ara, president of Robintur and vice president of Fto-Confcommercio, for many destinations still closed for Covid. The desire to travel of the Italians, however, is there, especially for those who can afford a Maldives package starting from 3,500-4,000 euros against 700-1,000 in Egypt and at least a thousand for the white week.