Ad aprile 2026 inflation in Italy dates back to +2,8%* on an annual basis according to preliminary ISTAT estimates. A fact that may seem to be under control, but which does not fully explain what the families are experiencing.
Once again the essential items are growing the most: energy (+9,5%) and unprocessed foods (+6,0%). Even more significant is the increase in high-frequency purchase products (+4,3%), those that have the greatest impact on daily spending.
The result is that perceived inflation is often higher than official inflation. Not because the data is wrong, but because they reflect an average that does not represent all families in the same way.
In recent years prices have increased rapidly and today, even with more limited growth, remain at high levels. This changes the structure of family budgets: incompressible expenses absorb an ever-increasing share of income, reducing space for savings and consumption.
Low-to-medium income families are the most exposed, because they allocate a larger part of the budget to essential goods. For them, inflation translates into a concrete reduction in purchasing power.
In this scenario, financial education becomes an increasingly important tool for adapting to a cost of living that, although growing more slowly, remains stably high.
Alex Gaetani
* Source https://www.istat.it/
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