Italian families are going to be hard hit
From January 2010, Consumers to be hit hard: Extra expenses
of 596 euro per family
To the tax increases of 120 euro envisaged in the budget are
to be added increases for gas, insurance and refuse disposal
taxes
MILAN – According to the Italian Consumer Associations
Adusbef and Federconsumatori in 2010 Italian families are
going to be hard hit. In the new year, Italian households
face on average increases of 600 Euro, due to price
increases, taxes and new expenditure. The consumer
associations identify the Budget as a source of increased
costs for families; they say that the assertions of
Berlusconi and Tremonti - that the newly-approved Budget has
not increased taxes - are simply not true. Indeed, they
maintain that the Budget contains measures which will cost
families on average 120 extra each year, without taking into
consideration increases in gas, fuel, mortgages and train
tickets. And if the New Year’s dinner prices set the tone
for the rest of the year (4%) then there is no reason to be
optimistic. Among the additional costs cited by the consumer
associations, there is an advance payment of 3 euro per
passenger on every single airline ticket in favour of the
airport managers, together with the contribution of 103.30
euro to be paid by sacked workers taking their case to the
Court of Appeal and of the 38 euro payable by citizens
challenging
speeding tickets.
INCREASES – In addition to these costs, there fall to be
added all the other increases: around 30 euro for gas, 130
for car insurance, 18 euro for water services, 35 euro for
refuse disposal, 30 euro for banking services, 80 euro for
mortgages caused by the instalments payments by the banks,
65 euro for increases in train tickets and 90 euro annually
for petrol and diesel costs. According to the estimates of
the two consumer associations, therefore, from January 2010
the burden of the new increases will be to the tune of 596
euro.
NEW YEAR’S DINNER – And the 2010 blow begins right on New
Year’s Eve. According to Adoc, celebrating in a restaurant
or club will cost on average more than 4% than last year.
And so the increases (+2%) in costs continue for those
wishing to save, prefer to remain at home or go to an
agriturismo. Celebrating in contact with nature, according
to the consumers’ association, will cost on average 130 euro
(+2.3% in comparison with last year), whilst organising a
dinner at home, for eight people, will not cost on average
more than 158 euro.
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CALCULATION OF THE CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATIONS