In December 2025, Italy’s national consumer price index rose 0.2% from November and 1.2% from December 2024, confirming preliminary inflation estimates from Istat. On average, consumer prices grew 1.5% in 2025, up from 1% in 2024.
Core inflation, excluding energy and fresh food, increased by 1.9%, while inflation excluding only energy rose 2%. The impact on households is significant: according to Codacons, these price increases translate into an additional cost of up to €496 per year for a typical family and €685 for a household with two children. Food and hospitality services (+3.4%) were the main contributors, with regional variations: Puglia experienced the highest price increases, while Molise and Valle d’Aosta saw the lowest.
Sectoral trends were mixed. Regulated energy prices, such as electricity and gas at administered rates, rose sharply (+16.2%) following a decline in 2024. Non-regulated energy, including fuels and gas on the open market, fell slightly (-3.8%). Fresh food items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish, increased by 3.4%. Prices also climbed in housing, water, electricity, and fuels (+1.1%), non-alcoholic beverages (+2.9%), and education (+2.6%). Transportation (-0.2%), household furnishings (+0.3%), and recreation, entertainment, and culture (+0.9%) saw slower growth.
The gap between overall inflation and the cost of essential goods remains significant: from 2021 to 2025, the general consumer price index rose 17.1%, while the grocery basket increased 24%, prompting the Antitrust Authority to investigate food pricing.