Non-Profit Consumerism has detected, from 2015 to 2025, double-digit increases among the main foods at the basis of the Mediterranean diet: fresh bread, for example, marked an increase of 43% (from approximately 2.90 to 4.14 euros/kg), semolina pasta grew by 40% (from 1.20 to 1.68 euros/kg), extra virgin olive oil by 65% (reaching 7.42 euros/l), eggs rose by 23% and fresh milk by 26%.
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Bad news also for fruit and vegetables: apples, for example, have increased by 33% reaching 1.73 euros/kg, courgettes cost 47% more and tomatoes have grown by as much as 50% reaching 2.70 euros/kg. Double-digit increases also for milk derivatives, with Parmigiano Reggiano up by +27% and meat, even the cheapest ones such as chicken breast, up by +35%; roasted coffee increased by as much as 73%.
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Prices are rising and disposable income is not always sufficient to cover expenses; according to the OECD, which records the trend of the average annual gross salary per full-time equivalent worker every year, over the 10 years income has grown by 18%, going from 29,473 euros in 2015 to 34,733 euros in 2025; however, the increase was not enough to cover the increased cost of living.
Removing the data from cumulative inflation, despite a slight rise recorded in the years 2024 and 2025, it emerges that the real wage has contracted by around 4% compared to 2015. In other words, the analysis concludes, although one receives a nominally heavier paycheck, the purchasing capacity of the average Italian worker has reduced compared to ten years ago and the increase in prices recorded in 2026 could further burden the family budget Italian.
By analyzing Eurostat data, Facile.it has quantified that in ten years the average tariff for electricity destined for consumers has risen by approximately 22%, bringing the expenditure of a typical family (consumption equal to 2,000 kWh) from 486 euros in 2015 to 593 euros in 2025, with an increase of 108 euros.
Things are worse with regards to the gas bill, which for a typical family (consumption 1,100 smc per year) has risen by 64%, going from 1,064 euros in 2015 to over 1,740 euros in 2025: an increase of as much as 677 euros. A burden destined to worsen in 2026 if we consider that, following the outbreak of the war in Iran, the price of gas has started to rise again with further repercussions on consumers' bills.
According to some of the data emerging from the Cara Italia observatory, created by Facile.it and Consumerismo No Profit, which analyzed how the main family spending items have changed from 2015 to 2025, in the last 10 years the expense of filling up a tank of petrol has increased by 13%. The owner of a medium-sized car who traveled 10,000 km in 2015 spent 1,013 euros on petrol, while in 2025 he needed 1,144. For diesel-powered cars, however, the cost of refueling went from 773 euros in 2015 to 909 euros in 2025. Even in this case, an even higher budget is expected for 2026: looking at the first 9 months of the year, the increase in spending compared to the same period in 2025 was 7% for petrol, 20% for diesel.
For further information: Coop Report 2026, we consume less and work more: "Italy incapable of growing"
