(Tiper Stock Exchange) – Inflation scares many Italian families and 84% predict that they will be forced to give up on leisure activities starting with restaurants (64% of the answers), but also on travel (53%), cultural events (43%) and sporting activities (25%) there will be cuts. According to the Findomestic Observatory in December conducted by the consumer credit company of the BNP group, in collaboration with Eumetra, almost half of the families (45%) admit that the situation caused by price increases is very (10%) or quite (35%) problematic while for a a further 47% the context remains “unproblematic”. In this climate, three-month buying intentions closed the year at -2.4%, confirming a negative trend that started in October (-9.7%) and continued in November (-3.4%).
“From our monthly Observatory – commented Gilles Zeitoun, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Findomestic – it emerges that Italians are increasingly concerned about the trend in inflation which is reflected in a cautious attitude in purchases for the first months of 2023. Fears about climate change are also growing, fueled by the anomalous heat recorded even at Christmas”.
According to 43% of those interviewed by the Findomestic Observatory, 2023 will be “worse” of the year just ended. Above all, the increase in prices weighs, which according to 67% of the sample will continue to rise, as will bills: for 55% there will still be more or less substantial increases. The pandemic will continue to impact our lives for 53% of the sample with increasingly closed and distrustful social behaviors (52% are convinced of this). No significant progress will be made on the environment for almost 6 out of 10 Italians (57%), while forecasts are more optimistic on the subject of war: 61% of those interviewed expect an improvement, of these 36% foresee the end of conflict.
Although the 2.4% drop in purchase intentions, however, there are several growing sectors starting from telephony (+17.6%) which leads the ranking of increases together with sports equipment (+9.5%), PCs (+8.8%) and cameras (+8 ,2%). Also positive is the propensity to purchase used cars (+7.6%) which together with new ones (+2.7% growing for the second consecutive month despite the -6.7% of electrified ones) drives the sector upwards vehicles held back, on the other hand, by scooters and motorcycles which, thanks to the winter, lost 8.7%. Among the two wheels also negative e-bikes (-1.2%) and alternative vehicles such as electric scooters (-28.8%). Purchasing intentions for the next three months in the home sector are divided between the declines in renovations (-12.9%), purchase of houses and apartments (-14%), furniture (-3.5%) and energy efficiency (Plants thermal and photovoltaic – 30.3%, heat pumps -22.5%, thermal insulation -7.5%, condensing and biomass systems -5% and fixtures -4.7%) and the growth of large (+ 7%) and small (+4%) household appliances and consumer electronics with TV and Hi-Fi up by 3.8%. In positive territory also tablets (+3.5%) and propensity to purchase travel (+4.1%) and do-it-yourself equipment (+6.4%).