From 2022 to 2025, essential food prices in Italy soared by up to 70%. Unimpresa warns: it’s a social emergency, not just inflation.
How much does it cost to eat today?
Bread, milk, and pasta, staples of the Italian diet, have experienced dramatic price hikes over the last three years. According to the Unimpresa Research Center, between 2022 and 2025:
- Bread rose by up to 62%, now costing €4.50 to €5.50 per kg
- Milk is up 20%, reaching €2.10 to €2.30 per liter
- Pasta spiked 38% in a single year, now priced around €1.70 per kg
These increases have hit household budgets hard, especially for low- and middle-income families.
What caused the spike in food prices?
The surge in food prices is the result of a perfect storm. The war in Ukraine cut supplies of wheat and corn. The energy crisis inflated production costs. Global droughts ruined crops, and financial speculation further drove up prices.
The result? Retail prices have become 12 to 17 times higher than the cost of raw materials, indicating significant profit margins across the supply chain.
Bread: from everyday food to expensive treat
Bread has become one of the symbols of this crisis. From an average of €3.20/kg in 2021, it now costs up to €5.50/kg in 2025, peaking at €9.80/kg in Ferrara.
Although prices slightly declined in 2025, the cost of soft wheat remains high: +86% for domestic wheat and +108% for imported wheat.
Milk: expensive and at risk
Raw milk spot prices reached €65.3 per 100 kg in 2025. At retail, milk sells for up to €2.30/liter, due to a 56% increase in feed costs, high energy prices, and Italy’s 16% reliance on imports.
Around 8% of Italian dairy farms risk closure, threatening national production.
Pasta: Italy’s pride takes a hit
Even pasta hasn’t been spared. From €1.10/kg, it rose to €1.76/kg by mid-2023. In cities like Cagliari, prices reached €4.70/kg.
Though prices dropped slightly to €1.62/kg in 2024, they remain 23% higher than in 2021. Promotions and discount stores helped, but only partially. The price of durum wheat rose 70%, and Italy imports 40% of its supply.
The impact on Italian families
In 2022, 58% of families cut back on food spending. Discount shopping rose by 11.9%, and many sought out offers and short-dated products.
Most worrying: 4.5 million Italians skipped medical treatments for financial reasons — a clear sign of growing food poverty, often hidden but widespread.
Unimpresa’s appeal to the government
Unimpresa’s honorary president, Paolo Longobardi, states:
“The right to food cannot be dictated by financial markets.”
Unimpresa calls for:
- VAT cuts on essential goods
- Stricter price speculation controls
- Anti-poverty food funds
- Support for local production
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How much has bread increased since 2022?
Up to 62%, reaching over €9/kg in some cities.
2. Why has milk become so expensive?
Higher feed and energy costs, plus Italy’s import dependence.
3. Will pasta prices return to pre-crisis levels?
Unlikely, as retail prices haven’t mirrored falling wheat costs.
4. Have prices stabilized in 2025?
Yes, but they remain much higher than in 2021.
5. Which Italian cities have the highest prices?
Ferrara, Milan, and Florence for bread; Cagliari and Sassari for pasta.
6. Who is most affected by the price hikes?
Low-income and working-class families.
7. What is Unimpresa asking the government?
Lower VAT, fight speculation, and fund food aid.
8. Is this only an economic issue?
No — it’s also a social emergency, affecting health and education.
9. Why is bread so expensive compared to wheat?
Because of high markups along the supply chain.
10. How can people save money on food?
Shop at discount stores, buy items on sale, and reduce waste.
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