Italy’s Grocery Basket Becomes 29.5% More Expensive in Five Years

Italy’s weekly grocery basket has become nearly 30% more expensive in five years, according to an analysis by Sole 24 Ore. The increase outpaced general inflation, which stood at 21% over the same period.

The newspaper tracked 31 products representing the weekly purchases of a couple with one child. The basket rose from €100 in 2021 to €129.50 in 2026, broadly matching Istat’s 30% measure of food inflation but remaining well above overall inflation.

Some everyday ingredients saw much sharper increases. Coffee rose 51%, extra-virgin olive oil 47% and tomatoes 45%. Potatoes increased 44%, aubergines 41%, eggs 43% and rice 44%. Bread rose 28%, while tomato passata increased 26%. Pasta and canned tuna became 24% and 25% more expensive, respectively.

The figures vary depending on which products are included. Sole 24 Ore recorded a 14% increase for fruit because its basket counted only apples and bananas. Istat’s broader fruit measure rose 28.6%, with strawberries up 48%, lemons 37% and oranges 31%.

The pressure extends beyond supermarket shelves. The average price of a coffee at a bar rose from €1.07 to €1.30, a 21% increase. A bar sandwich also rose 21%, while haircuts increased 14% for women and 11% for men. Among the 31 products, table wine showed the smallest rise, at 1.8%. Meanwhile, the proportion of families saying they had reduced the quantity or quality of their purchases climbed from 24.3% in 2021 to 31% in 2024.