While we continue to talk about growth, consumption is stagnating. According to the latest Istat data, in 2010 Italian household spending remained virtually unchanged. An average of 2.453 euros were spent each month (according to current values), just 0,5% more than the previous year. In real terms, considering the inflation dynamics (+1,5%), the sampling error (0,6%) and the variation in the value of the figurative rent (+0,2%), the increase is essentially nil.
For half of Italian families it was even worse: last year the average monthly expenditure remained below 2.040 euros. In any case, regional fluctuations are very strong, with Lombardy registering the highest figure (2.896 euros), while Sicily (1.668 euros) remained at the bottom of the ranking. The social differences are also more than significant: if the families of blue-collar workers have not spent an average of more than 2.372 euros, those of entrepreneurs and freelancers have reached 3.674 euros.
