Italy’s consumer price index rose modestly in December 2025, confirming preliminary data released earlier this month.
Istat said the national consumer price index for the whole nation (NIC) increased by 0.2% month on month. Annual inflation rose to 1.2%, up from 1.1% in November. The figure confirmed the flash estimate and marked a slight acceleration at the end of the year.
For 2025 as a whole, average annual inflation measured by NIC stood at 1.5%. This compared with 1.0% recorded in 2024. Core inflation, excluding energy and unprocessed food, averaged 1.9% in 2025. This was slightly lower than the 2.0% seen the previous year. Inflation excluding energy averaged 2.0%, down marginally from 2.1% in 2024.
Transport-related services drive increase
Istat said the annual increase in the all-items index in December was driven mainly by transport-related services. Prices in this category rose 2.6%, up from 0.9% in November.
Unprocessed food prices also accelerated, rising 2.3% year on year from 1.1% previously. Miscellaneous services recorded a smaller increase, rising to 2.2%. These increases were partly offset by slower growth in non-durable goods prices. Regulated energy products fell sharply, declining 5.2% year on year.
Core inflation in December remained stable at 1.7%. Inflation excluding energy rose slightly to 1.8%.
On a monthly basis, the overall increase was driven by transport services, which rose 3.1%. Unprocessed food prices increased by 0.4%. Grocery and unprocessed food prices were unchanged month on month. On an annual basis, they rose 1.9%, up from 1.5%.
Italy’s harmonised index of consumer prices also rose 0.2% month on month in December. Annual HICP inflation reached 1.2%. Average HICP inflation for 2025 stood at 1.7%, compared with 1.1% in 2024.
Istat said inflation had a greater impact on lower-income households during the year. It also noted that its shopping trolley index rose 24% between 2021 and 2025. Over the same period, overall inflation increased by 17.1%, while energy prices rose by 34.1%.
The Italian Antitrust Authority has opened an investigation into large retail chains. It cited a widening gap between overall inflation and food price inflation. A recent survey showed Italian households are cutting their food spending.
