Italians have changed their consumption habits

Coldiretti study, based on Istat data show how the Italians have reacted to the crisis and changed their purchase habits. The reduction is stronger for the purchase of clothing and footwear (-16%), furniture and household items and maintenance (-12%), but less for food (-8%).

In 2013, Italian families have reduced their expenses on fresh fish (-20%), pasta (-9%), milk (-8%), olive oil extra virgin (-6%), fruits and vegetables (-3%), meat (-2%) and increased their purchases of eggs (+2%). These decreases can be explained by a decrease in the amount of food purchased and a reduction of waste.

The crisis is nonetheless the decisive factor in the decline in per capita food expenditure, recognized since 2006, year of the maximum amount recorded. A recovery is expected in 2014, due to the bonus of 80 euros per month for certain categories of employees who will be able to devote a part to food purchase.

On the contrary, the Italians have preserved some areas and reduced very little their expenses for education and culture (-1.2%) and health care (-1.5%).

source :  tiscali it economia