Italy household spending: Mandatory costs to reach 41.7% of consumption by 2026

Reports from Confcommercio and Federconsumatori highlight a significant shift in Italian household finances, with mandatory expenses—such as housing, energy, healthcare, and insurance—projected to consume 41.7% of total consumption by 2026. This is an increase from 37% in 1995. Per capita, these non-discretionary costs are estimated to reach 9,693 euros.

Housing remains the largest single expense at 5,335 euros per person. While energy costs have seen a real-term reduction due to technological efficiency, the prices for energy, gas, and fuel have surged by 211.1% over the last thirty years, contributing to the overall pressure on family budgets.

Additionally, the cost of returning to school is rising. For the 2026 academic year, the average cost for school supplies is estimated at 673.60 euros per student, a 2.3% increase from the previous year. When including textbooks and dictionaries, costs for a high school student can reach approximately 1,478.75 euros. Consumers are increasingly turning to large-scale retail and refurbished technology to mitigate these rising costs.