New Year’s Eve spending confirms the resilience of Italian household consumption, despite a cautious economic climate. The average cost of a home-hosted New Year’s dinner has risen to €127.20 per family, about 2% more than in 2024, continuing a steady upward trend that began in 2022 after the pandemic slowdown. Over five years, spending has increased by nearly 28%, reflecting first inflationary pressures and then a normalization at higher price levels.
According to estimates by Unimpresa’s research center, applying the average cost to Italy’s 26.3 million households brings total spending on home celebrations alone to more than €3.3 billion, up 2% year on year and over 25% compared with 2020–2021.
Confcooperative offers a broader estimate, putting overall New Year’s spending at €2.5 billion, around €200 million more than last year. The increase, however, does not signal carefree consumption, but rather the combined effect of inflation, higher year-end bonuses and strong employment growth, which has expanded household incomes.
Traditions remain largely unchanged: four Italians out of ten celebrate at home, three travel, and another three opt for restaurants or hotels. Lentils remain a must-have symbol of prosperity, with Castelluccio di Norcia lentils in particularly high demand. Sweets top the spending list, followed by meat, cured meats, sparkling wines, fish and fresh produce. Quality, tradition and budget awareness continue to guide Italians’ New Year’s tables.