Istat communicated that, a February 2025retail sales in Italy do not present significant variations compared to the previous month, with the exception of the food sector, which records a slight increase. However, comparing the data on an annual basis, there is a more pronounced decrease, the most significant of the last ten months, both in value and volume.
In fact, in February 2025 retail sales decrease in the1.5% in value and 2.5% in volumecomparing with February 2024. Both the sales of food goods (-0.4% and -2.9%) and those of non -food goods (-2.2% and -2.4%) are decreasing.
The data on a monthly and annual basis
In February 2025, there was a slight positive conventise variation for retail sales, with an increase of 0.1% in value and volume stability. Food assets show an increase in sales ( +0.4% and +0.1%), while non -food goods remain unchanged.
On the quarter of December 2024 -February 2025, retail sales record an increase of 0.1% in value, but a decrease of 0.3% in volume, as well as food goods (+0.3% and -0.4%), while non -food goods mark a drop for both sectors (-0.1% and -0.3%).
But it is on an annual basis that the problems are recorded: “Flexion involves both the sales of food goods be those of non -food goods. Always in tendential terms, retail sales are decreasing for all distribution forms, with a less marked drop for large retailers, “explains Istat.
The distribution is also bad
As regards non -food goods, negative tendential variations are observed for almost all groups of products. For example:
- perfumery products, personal care (+1.7);
- Appliances, radio, TV and recorders (0.0);
- pharmaceutical products (-0.5);
- Games, toys, sports and camping (-1.3);
- Equipment for computer science, Telecom., Telephony (-1.7);
- Other products (jewelers, clocks) (-1.8);
- Durable and non-durable homemade households (-2.3);
- clothing and fur (-2.8);
- Furniture, textile items, furniture (-4.4);
- stationery, books, newspapers and magazines (-4.5);
- home and hardware tool (-4.6);
- Photo-optics and films, magnetic supports, musical instruments (-4.8);
- Footwear, leather and travel articles (-6.2).
Retail sales are flexed for all forms of distribution, if compared with February 2024:
- large retailers (-0.5%);
- companies operating on small surfaces (-2.4%);
- sales outside the shops (-2.2%);
- Electronic commerce (-1.9%).
“These data, unfortunately, confirm a not positive trend For the sector, “underlines Istat, highlighting the need to carefully monitor the evolution of consumption in the coming months.
For consumers’ associations it is a leader
Negative data for the Italian economy, with Massimiliano Dona, president ofNational Consumer Unionwho thunders: “One Chief! Sales fall on a 1.5% annual basis in value and even 2.5% in volume. Data to say the least alarming! Not only resumes the slimming care of the Italians, but the forced diet is of dangerous ones, with a collapse of 2.9% of volume food sales. In short, the Italians eat much less food in quantity than last year “.
According to the Association, if the drop in volumes consumed on February 2023 translates into euros, food expenses for an average family descend on an annual basis of 183 euros at prices of 2024, the non -food ones of 451 euros, for a total of 634 euros. “A couple with 2 children buys 265 euros less than food and 645 euros of non -food goods, for a total figure of 910 euroswhile for a couple with a child they are 235 euros less to eat, 823 euros in total “.
For Solos To weigh on this situation is the crisis of the raw materials that is leading to sensitive rise in prices for consumer food products, assets that record in some cases a two -digit inflation that forces consumers to change habits and reduce purchases. “For this reason we urge the government and the world of politics to study measures to guarantee families in difficulty the so -called” citizenship consumption “, that is basic necessities and essential services such as supply of water, light and gas, which are a universal consumer right”, explains President Gabriele Melluso
