Italians to spend 3.2 bn for Christmas meal says study

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 21 - Italians will spend an estimated 3.2 billion euros for the traditional Christmas meal, an additional 300 million compared to last year and 500 million more with respect to celebratory lunches or dinners prior to the Covid pandemic, according to a survey published on Saturday by the research centre of the confederation of cooperatives Confcooperative.
    The poll found that the phenomenon was not due to a significant rise in consumption but to a generalized increase in prices, as well as of Christmas bonuses and of the number of people in employment in 2024, which recorded a boom in new employees.
    "According to this trend, personal spending prevailed" this year which was dominated by "selfishness, caution and prudence" in consumption, with the gap between those who can spend and those who can't widening, it said.
    "One in three Italians will go on holiday, but the army of people in absolute and relative poverty includes about 10 million", said the study. (ANSA).