Between 2019 and July 2025, food prices in Italy increased by 30.1%, owing mostly to a significant rise between the end of 2021 and the first months of 2023, followed by a steady—albeit more moderate—growth trend across Europe. This is the image presented by Istat, which also emphasizes the reduced impact of the price increase compared to the EU average (+39.2%) and several of the main countries (Germany +40.3%, Spain +38.2%). These hikes weigh on the so-called shopping cart, a basket made up mostly of food products (88.5% of the total), which in August saw a 3.5% year-on-year increase. Consumer associations have responded to these data by expressing concern about "unsustainable price increases for families" and disputing the European comparison. They argue that the data only provides an indication of the price variation which “only give an idea of price variation in that reference period, not the absolute level of prices and the real cost of living". For instance, "in Italy, salaries have not been adjusted to either real inflation or the government's planned inflation for thirty years".