{
  "id": 10935074,
  "title": "Inflation accelerates again in Italy: September rate hits 4.2%, a three-year high",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/inflation-accelerates-again-in-italy-september-rate-hits-4-2-a-three",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:10:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews Business",
    "slug": "euronews-business",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/30/inflation-accelerates-again-in-italy-september-rate-hits-42-a-three-year-high"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Inflation is once again causing concern in Italy, with the consumer price index for the entire population jumping by 0.7% month-on-month in September, according to preliminary estimates from Istat. This brings the annual rate to 4.2%, marking a three-year high. The previous peak was in September 2023, when the annual rate was 5.3%. The psychological impact of inflation is particularly strong in Italy, evoking memories of double-digit inflation from the 1970s and 1980s, including periods that exceeded 20%.\n\nThe surge in prices is mainly driven by the energy sector, with overall energy costs increasing from +17.1% to +22.3%. Within this sector, regulated energy costs rose from +18.6% to +25.9%, while unregulated energy costs increased from +17.0% to +22.2%. Food prices, including fresh fruits and vegetables, are also rising, with annual growth rates increasing from +3.8% to +5.5%. Other services, such as recreational and cultural activities, and transport-related services, are also experiencing price increases, though at a slower pace.\n\nDespite these rising costs, core inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, has only modestly increased from 1.5% to 1.7%. The gap between goods prices and services prices, however, has widened significantly. Goods prices accelerated from +4.1% to +5.4%, while services prices grew more modestly from +2.4% to +2.6%. This results in a difference of -2.8 percentage points between goods and services prices, up from -1.7 in August.\n\nThe overall Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) shows a monthly change of +2.0%, with an annual rate of +4.1%. While fuel prices at the pump have slightly decreased, price lists remain a concern. The Ministry for Business and Made in Italy reports that major operators like Eni, IP, and Q8 are offering lower prices at their stations, at €1.99/l for petrol and €2.19/l for diesel, compared to the national average prices. This disparity in pricing is contributing to consumer caution and uncertainty about the future.",
  "summary": "Consumer price index accelerates driven by energy goods and fresh food. Between historical memory and daily worries, Istat records a sharp drop in confidence among households and firms.",
  "key_points": [
    "Italy's inflation rate hits 4.2% annual, a three-year high",
    "Energy sector drives price surge, energy costs rise 5.2 percentage points",
    "Core inflation modestly increases to 1.7% annual"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10935074.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Energy costs spark inflation surges in France, Italy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/energy-costs-spark-inflation-surges-in-france-italy",
        "published": "2026-09-30T10:47:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Inflation accelerates again in Italy: September rate hits 4.2%, a three-year high",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/inflation-accelerates-again-in-italy-september-rate-hits-4-2-a-three-10940671",
        "published": "2026-09-30T12:10:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}