The coronavirus epidemic represented a real "tsunami" for consumption and, despite the recovery that has taken place in recent months, since the beginning of the emergency, the economic crisis has canceled an average of 5,300 euros in expenditure for each family.

The estimate comes from Confesercenti, which calculated how much consumption has been reduced compared to pre-Covid levels in 2020 and 2021.

The figure relating to the families of the island is much higher than the national average, which is equal to 4 thousand euros, and is among the highest recorded in the Italian regions, after that of Tuscany (9,119 euros), Piedmont (-5,724 euros) and Basilicata (-5,491 euros).

The Regions in which, on the other hand, the contraction in consumption was most contained are Sicily (-1,025 euros), Abruzzo (-1,402 euros) and Lazio (-1,568 euros per family).

Contributing to the cut in spending were not only the restrictive measures decided by the government - the lockdowns and restrictions between 2020 and the first six months of this year - but also "the reduction in income from work, inflation and uncertainty ", which led to more savings than usual, explained the trade association.

"The pandemic has had a devastating impact on household consumption", commented Patrizia De Luise, national president of Confesercenti, "adding up the consumption lost in 2020 and 2021, it is as if families had lost two to three months of income. intervene to accelerate the recovery, because about 60% of our gross domestic product depends on internal consumption. The main way is fiscal: the tax reform, which will begin with this year's maneuver, must free family resources ".

(Unioneonline / F)

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