ع
Italy’s national statistics office Istat released preliminary estimates showing the consumer price index for the whole nation rose 0.9 percent on the month in October while climbing 5.4 percent from a year earlier. The acceleration from September’s 4.2 percent annual rate was driven mainly by regulated energy products, which surged to an annual 59.5 percent from 25.8 percent, and non-regulated energy goods that moved to 29.4 percent from 22.5 percent. Unprocessed food prices increased to an annual 7.5 percent from 5.5 percent while services related to transport rose to 3.1 percent from 1.6 percent, according to the Istat data. Processed food including alcohol saw the pace of decline ease to 0.2 percent from 0.6 percent.
Istat figures show the annual rate for goods as a whole accelerated to 7.5 percent from 5.4 percent in September while the services category advanced to 2.9 percent from 2.6 percent. Core inflation, stripping out energy and fresh food, picked up to 2.0 percent from 1.6 percent with the rate excluding only energy rising to 2.5 percent from 2.0 percent. The so-called shopping basket measuring food, household and personal care items excluding fuel increased to 2.5 percent from 1.5 percent while the index for frequently purchased goods including fuel moved to 5.8 percent from 5.2 percent.
Monthly changes in October reflected an 18.8 percent jump in regulated energy prices and a 4.9 percent rise in non-regulated energy costs along with an 1.8 percent increase in unprocessed food and a 1.2 percent gain in transport services, Istat reported. Processed food including alcohol rose 0.5 percent on the month while prices for services related to recreation, culture and personal care fell 0.9 percent. These shifts produced the overall 0.9 percent monthly increase in the national index.
The harmonised index of consumer prices used for European comparisons recorded a 1.2 percent monthly rise and a 5.6 percent annual increase in October, up from 4.2 percent the previous month, according to Istat’s preliminary estimates. The reading returned headline inflation to the level last seen in August 2023 when the annual rate also stood at 5.4 percent, Istat assessments found. Earlier Istat releases had placed the annual rate at 3.3 percent in August 2026 and 2.9 percent in July.
Istat calculated the acquired inflation rate for the full year 2026 at 3.4 percent for the general index and 1.9 percent for the core component based on the October data. The statistics office noted that the latest acceleration continues to reflect the impact of international geopolitical developments on energy markets. Final consumer price figures for the month are scheduled for release on November 17.
