A 2012 full of news for Italian consumers (and traders). While the end of the crisis still seems far away, and indeed probably destined to worsen in the year that begins, the sales season (today in Sicily and Basilicata, on 5 January in Rome, Milan and in all the big cities), which this year will be accompanied by another great novelty: the liberalization of shop hours. In fact, from today, as a result of the Monti manoeuvre, any commercial establishment will be able to keep the shutter open as long as it wants: shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, department stores, supermarkets throughout Italy will no longer have restrictions. A real revolution, which will try to encourage the relaunch of consumption and to mark a cultural turning point for the country, adapting it to the rhythms and dynamism of the most advanced countries of Europe and the world. However, traders don't like the "twist" too much. The law approved by Monti's government in fact, it grants ninety days to local authorities to adapt their regulations to this liberalisation, but so far only Rome is ready. And there is already controversy on the union front, ready to lock out. But while traders are on a war footing, 2012 opens under the banner of another novelty, negative for all consumers: again as a result of the additional taxes introduced by the new government, gasoline hit a new all-time high today, flying at an average price of 1,738 euro/litre, with peaks reaching 1,8 euro in some areas of the country, especially in the south and centre, where the impact of surcharges is stronger. Hard times, finally, also for retirees: after the reform came into force, INPS sent letters to 450 of them: no cash payments over XNUMX euros. All sacrifices but not making them would be tantamount to decreeing the bankruptcy of Italy and the bankruptcy of the euro in advance. What is the lesser evil?
LIBERALIZATION OF STORE HOURS – While everything is ready in the Capital, the rest of Italy is still adapting and the trade unions are already ready to declare war on this law which – they claim – will eventually lead to a loss of about 67 jobs in the sector, favoring only pubs, restaurants and large distribution. So far only Naples is following in the footsteps of Rome, through the words of the mayor Luigi De Magistris: “We had already moved independently to promote the liberalization of shop hours. This national law is a path that we fully share. The Councilor for Commerce will have to make his assessment, but in the meantime, if the shops in Naples want to start adapting, I'm happy”. Instead, Milan and Turin were cold, who want to wait for the 90 days allowed by law to organize themselves.
SALES - They will leave before Epiphany in almost all Italian regions, except for Molise, Val d'Aosta and the autonomous province of Bolzano. But what balances will they be in times of crisis and austerity? As the Christmas trend suggests, down 8% compared to 2010, it is a decline is also expected for end-of-season discounts. "To find out what they will be like, just look at the average family - explains Roberto Manzoni, president of Confesercenti -, which has seen an increase in fixed expenses for family management by 6-7%, while simultaneously losing another 6-7% in purchasing power . The balances are the mirror of the country's economy, and for this reason we expect a decline: a non-dramatic decline, but in line with the situation in Italy. Someone will buy what they need, but others will be held back by fear for the future”.
PENSIONS – The adjustment to the new payment methods must take place by 6 March 2012. INPS will therefore not be able to make cash payments of more than one thousand euros starting from 7 March 2012, the date by which it will be up to pensioners to communicate the new collection methods, choosing between crediting a current account, postal book or rechargeable card. The novelty is part of the "Christmas manoeuvre" (law 214 of 22 December 2011) which establishes that public administrations must use electronic payment instruments, available in the banking or postal system, for the payment of salaries, pensions and higher amounts to a thousand euros.
PETROL AND OTHER INCREASES – Fuel flies to historic records (the highest price in all of Europe), and according to estimates by the National Observatory Federconsumatori Italians will spend 2012 euros more in 192 for their full tank of petrol, to which must be added the indirect effects, paid by everyone and not just by motorists, such as the determination of the prices of goods (given for example that around 86% of food and drink transports still take place by road). Not to mention the motorway toll increases, which rose by 3,51% due to inflation and a series of additional investments planned by Autostrade per l'Italia. And that's not all: the beginning of the year will bring families yet another year increase in electricity and gas bills, which will cost Italians 54 euros more for each household over the twelve months. The main culprits in this case are the increases in the prices of electricity (+4,9%) and gas (+2,7%).
Finally, one cannot even console oneself too much with the game. Admitted and not granted that fortune assists the Italians, it is from today the new tax on winnings is in effect, published in the Official Gazette last December 31, which will bring a 6% tax on all winnings over €500, guaranteeing the state coffers one billion euros a year, as envisaged by this summer's maneuver bis. For example, if the tax had been applied to the highest winnings this year, of 178 million, the deduction would have been equal to 10,6 million euros.
