Even in Sardinia pensions lose purchasing power . The alarm was sounded by a report released by the Study Office of Confartigianato Sardinia , analyzing the data of Federanziani. A serious situation, highlights the organization, according to which "inflation, high prices and the exponential increase in electricity bills are literally humiliating the elderly ".
THE FIGURES – «On average – the study found – Italian pensioners receive 13,753 euros a year, which is equivalent to about 1,146 euros a month; and there are about 4 million over 65s who live alone: 70% are pensioners with less than a thousand euros and 17% with pensions of just 500 euros».
COSTS AND INCREASES – According to the analysis, on average, an Italian pensioner uses 19% of his pension (217 euros) for food expenses, 40% (458.4 euros) for housing and utilities, 9 % (103.14 euros) for transport and cars, 7% (80 euros) for health. The rest is a long list of items that include clothing, unexpected expenses and help for immediate family members. "And the situation precipitates if the elderly are not self-sufficient: the incidence of the cost of home assistance, such as carers, becomes explosive".
FORCED TO CUT – Considering, then, the increase in inflation in the last two years, which rose from 2.2% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2022, the accounts have become unsustainable. Furthermore, about 37% of retirees have eliminated the purchase of bottled water and drink tap water at home instead, 26% have stopped buying supplements, 63% have reduced the consumption of white or red meat to once a week, replacing it with lentils, chickpeas and beans. Expenses for medical care and drugs have also been reduced, while the use of the car has been reduced only for essential needs. Also cut off gifts to grandchildren.
DEAREST PASTA – But it is on foodstuffs, in particular pasta, that the price increase is being unloaded; according to the latest Istat data, from September of last year to today, its cost has increased by 38% (3 times the inflation), and between March and April of this year by 17% (2 and a half times the inflation ), with prices that have grown between 1.10 euros and 1.40 euros per kilo.
“DEVASTATING EFFECTS” – «A substantial portion of the elderly Sardinian population is extremely exposed to the devastating effects of the ever-rising fluctuations in prices», comments Paola Montis, Regional President of ANAP Sardinia, the Association of Retired Artisans of Confartigianato . Adding: «Inflation and generalized price increases are causing one of the strongest pillars of family welfare to waver: pensioners whose situation has become unsustainable - – in fact, even with modest incomes, until recently they were able to give valid help economic to children and grandchildren, who often are unable to make ends meet because they have lost their jobs, are on layoffs or cannot find stable employment".
“SOCIAL BOMB” – «We know that many elderly Sardinian pensioners are forced to live on a monthly allowance that does not even reach one thousand euros - continues Montis - means a condition of poverty, even according to official parameters. The accounts are now unmanageable and their situation risks turning into a social bomb».
“ADJUSTING PENSIONS” – «It also means, trivially, that a substantial portion of the elderly Sardinian population is extremely exposed to the devastating effects of ever upward fluctuations in prices - continues Montis - with the need to ask for help from family members or the system public assistance to pay for utilities, rents or domestic help essential for leading a partially independent life".
"In conclusion - concludes Paola Montis - it is essential for us that the elderly do not see their purchasing power eroded, therefore the adjustment of pensions to inflation must be a priority and on this front we can no longer ask for sacrifices from pensioners, as happened too often in the past years».
(Unioneonline/lf)
Inflation, Confesercenti's estimates – Video: