Istat, household monthly expenditure + 4.7% in 2021 but down compared to the pre-pandemic

In 2021, the estimate of the average monthly expenditure of households resident in Italy is 2,437 euros in current values, in marked recovery (+ 4.7%) compared to 2020. Considering the inflationary dynamics (+ 1.9% the Nic variation) , growth in real terms is somewhat less extensive (+ 2.8%). Although accentuated, the progress of 2021 does not compensate for the collapse of 2020: compared to 2019, in fact, the change in current values ​​is still negative (-4.8%). This is what emerges from an Istat report according to which territorial gaps are starting to grow again, 728 euros between the North-West and the South, from 625 euros in 2020. The weight of food and non-alcoholic beverages on expenditure falls to 19.3% total from 20.1% in 2020. Non-food expenditure increases by 5.7% compared to 2020 (on average € 1,967 per month). The highest increase (+ 26.5%) is observed for the Hospitality and restaurant services chapter (100 euros per month), which in 2020 had suffered a real collapse (-38.9%). Followed by Clothing and Footwear (100 euros, + 13.8% compared to the previous year; -23.3% in 2020) and Transportation (241 euros per month, + 10.8%, -24.6% in 2020). On the other hand, expenditure for recreation, entertainment and culture grew by only 5.9% (99 euros per month; -26.4% in 2020), which, together with that for hospitality and catering services, is the expenditure that remains further away. from 2019 levels (-22.7% the first and -22.0% the second). Both of these product sectors are affected by the persistence of the limitations to sociality which, albeit to a much less extensive extent than in 2020, characterized 2021.