The war in the Middle East brings increases in prices on vegetables, fruit, meat and services. Alarm on mineral water and soft drinks between costs and supply
The war in the Middle East is being felt in Italian homes, with double-digit increases in the shopping cart. It’s not just a perception: the numbers show an acceleration in prices starting from fuel and reaching supermarket shelves. And while fruit, vegetables and meat become more expensive (even with increases of over 20%), a new critical front is looming on the horizon: mineral water and soft drinks, with increases in prices and even the risk of disappearing from the shelves.
Expensive fuel and expenses: why prices are rising
At the root of yet another wave of price increases is the cost of energy, and diesel in particular. In a country like Italy, where the majority of goods travel by road, every increase at the pump almost automatically translates into an increase in retail prices. And transport costs today are impacting above all on fresh products, which must be distributed quickly throughout the peninsula and cannot rely on long supply chains or significant inventories.
Food price increases: aubergines +21.5%, peas +19.6%
Going into detail, the photograph taken by Assoutenti shows double-digit increases on numerous everyday products. Eggplants lead the price increases with +21.5% on an annual basis. Followed by peas (+19.6%) and berries (+16.3%), while even very popular products such as courgettes (+11.1%), lemons (+10.8%), strawberries (+10.4%) and tomatoes (+9%) recorded significant increases. It’s not just about fruit and vegetables. Fundamental goods of the daily diet are also rising: legumes (+9.9%), eggs (+8.5%) and beef (+8.4%). Even products considered “basic”, such as cauliflower, broccoli and citrus fruits, show increases of between 6% and 7%. The result is an increasingly heavy shopping cart for families.
Not just food: flights, pellets and more expensive services
The domino effect of fuels is also being felt in other sectors. Jewellery, driven by gold prices, recorded a +33.5%, while domestic flights increased by +12.6% due to the combined effect of expensive jet fuel and seasonality. European flights are also more expensive (+6%). On the domestic front, the costs of firewood and pellets are growing (+8.2%), while sending a package costs an average of 6.5% more. Signs that confirm how energy inflation continues to spread across the real economy.
Mineral water and soft drinks: increases and shortages are comingAnd
And for the foreseeable future, the mineral water and soft drinks supply chain, which is heavily dependent on plastic, is under observation. The increase in the cost of oil is in fact reflected in the price of PET, the material used for bottles. In recent months, several suppliers have requested increases of up to 30% on materials, putting producers in difficulty. Initial estimates from Codacons speak of increases of between 4 and 6 cents for a 1.5 liter bottle. A figure which on a national scale can translate into an impact of more than 600 million euros per year for consumers. And what’s more, not only are increases expected, but there is also the risk of finding ourselves with supply problems. In an extreme scenario, some products could temporarily disappear from shelves, especially in the summer months when demand grows.
The alarm from consumer associations and what families can do
Consumer associations are calling for urgent action. Among the main proposals is the extension of the cut in excise duties on fuel and a strengthening of controls to avoid speculative phenomena along the supply chain. And in the meantime the Antitrust has been consulted to verify the legitimacy of the increases in the packaging sector. And what can families do? Consumer associations recommend favoring seasonal products, comparing prices between different points of sale and reducing waste to mitigate the impact of price increases. There is also growing interest in alternatives such as tap water, where possible, which represents a more economical and sustainable solution. The fact is that the shopping cart will remain under pressure for a long time to come.
