As prices for mozzarella and olive oil continue to rise and energy costs remain high, Italy’s “national” food, one of Italy’s classics, the Margherita pizza, is becoming more expensive.

In accordance with bloomberg citing data from Istat (Italian Statistical Institute) and the Ministry of Finance, the materials and energy required to prepare the classic Neapolitan dish have increased. by 25% in Januarycompared to the same period in 2022, although they are down from last November when they were up 30%.

Bloomberg attributes the rise in electric oven-baked homemade margaritas to rising prices for flour, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, olive oil and, of course, electricity consumption.

The cost of buying pre-made pizza increased by (only) 9.6% year-over-year, making this alternative cheaper than making homemade pizza.

It is recalled that the symbolic street food of Naples, which became national and then universal, got its name in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy. According to legend, she was in awe of a tomato and cheese pasta prepared for her by a Neapolitan chef, which led the latter to give her his name.

Decline in inflation

However, for the second month in a row, rising inflation trends in Italy show a decline.

Istat’s inflation forecast for 2023 is 5.2%.

The cities in Italy that saw the biggest increase in prices for various products last month are:

• Catania, Sicily,
• Genoa (in northwestern Italy) and
• Palermo, also in Sicily.

In Rome, inflation rose by 8.9%, and in Milan by 10.8%.

Source: Bloomberg.