Household consumption expenditure

In 2017, the average monthly household consumption expenditure, at current values, was 2,564 euros (+1.6% compared to 2016 and +3.8% compared to 2013, the year with the lowest household consumption expenditure level). Even if at a slower pace, the recovery of household consumption expenditure started in 2014, continued.

The average expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages was 457 euros per month (448 euros in 2016), the non-food expenditure was equal to 2,107 euros per month.

In 2017, households in the North area spent for consumption more than households in the South and in the Islands. In particular, the highest expenditure was observed in the North-west (2,875 euros per month), about 900 euros more than the average expenditure in the Islands (1,983 per month).

In metropolitan area centres the average monthly expenditure in 2017 was 2,829 euros, about 375 euros more than the average expenditure in small municipalities outside of metropolitan areas (2,454 per month).

In 2017, the average monthly expenditure for households with all non-national members was equal to 1,679 euros per month; it was 945 euros lower than the expenditure observed for households with all national members (2,624 per month).

Household spending behaviours observed in 2017 confirmed that in recent years inequality in Italy is increasing: compared to 2016, the average monthly consumption expenditure for households belonging to the first decile of total equivalent consumption expenditure (the lowest) decreased by 5.0% while for households in the tenth decile (the highest) increased by 4.3% in the same period.