Tuscany reports high levels of household debt

A new report by Ires Toscana reveals that Tuscany has become the second most indebted region in Italy. Approximately 69.2% of residents, totaling 2.18 million people, have active debts, significantly higher than the national average of 60.7%.

According to the study, curated by Filippo Torrigiani, much of this debt is driven by the need to cover essential living costs such as food, rent, utilities, and medical care, rather than luxury purchases. Over 52% of residents hold consumer credit agreements with an average monthly installment of 290 euros. Additionally, salary or pension advances (cessione del quinto) affect nearly 8% of the active population.

Several Tuscan provinces rank among the highest in Italy for average consumer debt per family, including Massa-Carrara, Pistoia, Pisa, and Lucca. The report also highlights a decline in real income for both private and public sector workers, noting that 13.2% of the population is at risk of deprivation and many residents are forced to forgo medical care due to economic constraints.