Energy costs impact Italian families and small businesses

Rising energy costs have cost Italian families approximately 1.8 billion euros, according to a study by Confartigianato. This increase is driven by an 11.4% rise in energy prices linked to conflicts in the Middle East. Specifically, electricity costs rose by 10.1% and gas prices increased by 13.5%, a rate of growth significantly higher than the general inflation rate of 2.8% recorded between February and August.

In the Calabria region, the impact is particularly acute. Small and micro-businesses in Calabria face an estimated 81 million euros in extra electricity costs compared to the European Union average. Additionally, families in the region have seen an estimated 41 million euro increase in spending on light, gas, and other domestic fuels over a six-month period.

Nationally, Italian micro and small businesses pay approximately 3.7 billion euros more for electricity than the EU average, with local prices reaching 25.99 cents per kilowatt-hour compared to the European average of 22.04 cents.