Effect of inflation on Italians' consumption habits 2023, by social class

In 2023, inflation severely impacted on Italians belonging to the lower middle-class and to the working class. Almost half of the lower middle-class members reduced spending on shopping, energy and leisure. The majority of the underclass individuals more evidently adopted new purchasing practices. More than 70 percent of the citizens diminished unnecessary shopping and limited energy consumption, while, surprisingly, 60 percent of them curtailed grocery shopping. This latter measure impacted on only 40 percent of the lower-middle class and 15 percent of the middle-class. Hence, Italians with some economic resources preferred not cutting spending on groceries, and only the poorest resorted to this choice. However, two out of five members of the middle-class had to reduce general shopping and electricity consumption.