In 2019, tariffs in Italy continued to increase: the only ones that went against the trend were gas (-0,9 percent) and telephone services (-6,1 percent); these items, together with taxi travel (+0,5 per cent) and tolls, are the only tariffs that have remained below inflation, which rose by 0,6 per cent last year.
All the others, however, have undergone important increases: in particular urban transport (+2,6 percent), postal services (+3,4), electricity (+5) and rail transport (+ 7 percent). The increases recorded by waste collection (+1) and water supply (+2 percent) were more contained, but still higher than the increase in the life expectancy. Only highway tolls / parking meters have not undergone substantial changes compared to 2018.
“The decrease in the cost of natural gas recorded in the last year - reports the coordinator of the CGIA Studies Office Paolo Zabeo - has contributed to curbing the price increase of a good part of the tariffs examined. Despite this, the increases in transport costs and electricity bills have been significant and families with low-medium incomes have been affected, given that these costs have a more significant impact among households that have a lower and much less spending capacity. in those with greater economic resources ”.
The tariff increases that occurred in 2019, however, have been significantly lower than those that have occurred in the last decade. If the cost of living rose by 2009 percent between 2019 and 12,3, gas increased by 6,2 percent in the same period, taxis by 15,7 percent, electricity by 25,7 percent, waste of 31,5, tolls of 34,5, urban transport of 36,9, rail transport of 38, postal services of 46,3 and water of 81,6 percent. Of the 10 tariffs examined, only telephone services suffered a price contraction (-15,9 percent).
"As announced by the Authority for electricity and gas last December - says CGIA Secretary Renato Mason - in the first quarter of this year the electricity tariffs will drop by 5,4 percent, those of gas instead, they will post an adjustment of +0,8 percent. Except for the news that could be included in the Senate in the Milleproroghe decree, it should be noted that the long-awaited liberalization of the protected market for both electricity and gas has been postponed for families as of January 1, 2022 ".
For our companies, energy and gas bills are the most expensive in Europe
If we compare the weight of our tariffs with that of the other European countries (data referring to the first half of 1), the result that emerges is not at all comforting, especially for businesses.
As regards the price of electricity for a family with an average annual domestic consumption of between 2.500 and 5.000 KWH, for example, our country ranks fifth with an increase compared to the average figure of the Euro Area countries equal 1,4 percent.
For businesses, however, the situation is very critical. In the euro area, our bills are the most expensive: compared to the average of the 19 countries that use the single currency, the average cost of electricity charged to our production activities is 29,6 percent higher.
For gas, on the other hand, the average cost of an Italian household with a domestic consumption of between 20 and 200 GJ (Giga Joule - unit of measurement of energy) is the second among the 19 countries that use the single currency. Compared to the Euro Area average, we pay 8,2 percent more.
Our SMEs, on the other hand, pay the gas 18,5 percent more than the average of the countries analyzed.
Traveling with our public transport is cheap
Net of the quality of the service provided to travelers, especially in large cities, from an economic point of view, using Italian public transport is worthwhile. In comparison with the main European cities, in fact, the cost of a one-way bus, tram and metro ticket for a route of about 10 kilometers (or at least 10 stops) is the lowest ever. The average measured in Milan and Rome is 1,57 euros. Nothing to do with the price charged, for example, in London (4,79 euros), in Stockholm (4,60 euros) and the average of Berlin-Frankfurt and Munich (2,94 euros).
Tickets among the least expensive in Europe even when we travel by train. The one-way trip in the second class for a stretch of at least 200 kilometers applied from the stations of Milan and Rome is on average 23,25 euro. Nothing to do with the euro 50,38 asked in Berlin-Frankfurt-Munich, with the 48,35 euro in London and the 32,28 euro in Paris.
The water tariff is the cheapest in Europe
Finally, as regards the tariff of the water supply, it is necessary to make a clarification. It is true that the increases that occurred in Italy in 2019 were very important, however it should be remembered that the average price per cubic meter in Rome, equal to 1,78 euros, is significantly lower than almost all the average rates applied in the main European capitals.
