Autumn brings increases. The cost of living is widespread, as a result of oppressive inflation, and does not only concern petrol or basic necessities. Electricity bills have started to skyrocket again and telephone companies are warning users of imminent unilateral increases. From bread to beer, food at the market checkout will cost 10.7% more. The most significant increases were recorded for olive oil and canned tuna. But alcohol and imported wheat-based products, together with those for children, also show a growing trend. Doing the math in families' pockets, monthly spending could require 205 euros more than in 2022.
The government
To prevent the situation from getting out of hand, the Pact on the anti-inflation quarter will be signed on 28 September, which envisages offering a basket of products at reduced or controlled prices from 1 October to 31 December, respecting freedom of enterprise and of companies' market strategies. The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, will be present for the signing at Palazzo Chigi, together with the associations of distribution, trade and the consumer goods industry. The intervention aims to offer a basket of shopping and basic necessities products at reduced prices with a saving of 4 billion for families. And the rest?
The energy statement
Adiconsum reported on Saturday that, together with the Consumerismo Non Profit association, it presented a joint complaint to the Antitrust Authority against Enel Energia, asking to open an investigation into a possible unfair commercial practice. «In recent weeks, countless reports have been arriving from consumers on the free energy market who complain of having undergone changes to existing contracts, including the economic conditions, unilaterally and without notice, with related substantial tariff increases which in some cases reach cases +300%", writes Giorgio Vargiu, president of Adiconsum Sardegna, in a note. «Yet article 3 of the legislative decree of 9 August 2022 number 115 suspended the effectiveness of any contractual clause which allowed the electricity supplier company to unilaterally modify the general contract conditions relating to the definition of the price. Deadline extended to 30 June 2023 with the so-called Milleproroghe Decree".
