{
  "id": 10940671,
  "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",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-30T12:10:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "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 has resurfaced in Italy, with the national consumer price index (NIC) rising by 0.7% month-on-month in September, according to preliminary estimates from Istat. This puts the annual rate at 4.2%, the highest level in three years. Economists describe inflation as an \"invisible monster\" because it affects everyone and silently erodes purchasing power. For Italians, the return of inflationary pressure evokes memories of double-digit inflation from the 1970s and 1980s, when prices even exceeded 20% during oil crises. The current spike in prices is primarily driven by the energy sector, with both regulated and unregulated energy components experiencing significant increases. Italian households are also feeling the impact of rising food prices, with the annual growth rate of unprocessed food products reaching 5.5%. Core inflation, which excludes energy and food prices, has risen to 1.7%, while the gap between goods and services prices has widened. Despite a slight easing in fuel prices at the pump, disparities between retailers remain significant. The decline in consumer confidence and cautious spending patterns indicate that inflation could lead to an uncertain autumn ahead.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "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 Business",
        "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",
        "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."
}