Confcommercio reports household spending is on the rise: technology is booming, free time is accelerating.

In 2025, real per capita spending reached 22,114 euros , compared to 19,322 euros in 1995, with an increase of 239 euros compared to 2024 but still far from the highs reached in 2007, when it was 22,334 euros.

According to an analysis by the Confcommercio Research Office on Italian family consumption over the last 30 years , per capita spending on IT and telephones has left the biggest mark on Italians' spending habits, with a dizzying growth of almost 3,000%.

At the same time, consumption related to leisure activities – particularly cultural and recreational services – also showed significant progress, with a real increase of over 120%.

Spending on food and energy is decreasing.

With the exception of the technology and leisure sectors, few other segments are showing structural signs of expansion. Spending on travel and vacations (+18%) and restaurants (+25.7%)—although recovering—have not yet fully recovered their post-pandemic losses. Conversely, the contraction in demand for traditional goods will continue to consolidate in 2025.

Food and beverage prices have decreased by 5.1% compared to 1995, while clothing has fallen by 0.5% and furniture and household appliances have remained substantially stable (+0.8%). Real household energy consumption has also decreased (-35.1%), mainly due, the Association explains, to the growing focus on energy saving and efficiency, although the unit price of energy has increased significantly.

According to Confcommercio, the fundamentals of the Italian economy, at least in the short term, are undoubtedly solid: real household disposable income is above pre-pandemic levels, employment is at its highest, the financial markets' assessment of our public debt is flattering (the spread versus the German 10-year bond is under 90 basis points), and inflation is around 2%, with an expected average annual closing rate of 1.5% (or 1.7% to account for "unforeseeable" tensions).

The weakest aspect of the current scenario is the profile of household consumption . The study continues: "Italians significantly underestimate the change in their real income, more so than their other European citizens: we perceive ourselves as worse than we are and, therefore, we spend less than we could." Confcommercio hypothesizes that in the coming months we will see a clearing of confidence, caused by a more realistic assessment of the conditions of growing income and constant or decreasing inflation.

"This would lead," it says, "to a positive change in consumption of around 1% and to a change in GDP this year of 0.7%.

In 2025 , per capita spending on food and beverages will be €3,395 (€3,413 in 2024), less than the €4,538 estimated for personal care. Within this category, which grew 14.8% since 1995, clothing has lost ground, dropping to €1,115. On household goods, an average of €6,480 is spent (€6,375 in 2024), while €1,702 is spent on consumption in public establishments (€1,671 in 2024). IT equipment will cost €248, compared to just €44 in 2007.

"Italians are spending again, but cautiously, especially in the technology sector. The impact of tariffs is worrying and generating uncertainty. Signs of confidence are needed, starting with tax reform, to boost consumption and investment," said Carlo Sangalli , president of Confcommercio, commenting on the analysis of consumption over the last 30 years released today.