Italians will be spending more but buying less to fill their holiday tables this year, according to a study by the Italian Farmers Confederation (Cia).
Even though Italians are expected to buy 2.3% less food for their traditional Christmas and New Year's meals, they will be spending 6.5% more than they did last year, for a total of some six billion euros, Cia predicted.
The biggest cuts families will make at their tables will be those for the costliest foods including salmon, oysters, caviar and exotic fruits, the sales of which are expected to tumble by between 20% and 25% from last year.
Domestic products will take center stage on Italian holiday tables, mostly meat, fish, cold cuts wine and sparkling wines.
Over 80 bottles of bubbly will be consumed in Italy during the holidays, up 2% from last year, over 90% of which will be Italian spumante and prosecco, while the rest will be French champagne.
Cia forecast a general 1.5% drop in sales of meats and cold cuts, while the consumption of poultry should rise slightly now that last year's bird flu is over.
Cheese sales are expected to dip 0.5%, after last year's 3.2% plunge.
Although the market has not seen a trickle-down effect of the recent 10% drop in grain prices, Italian consumers will make their own cuts by buying 6.5% less pasta and bread to celebrate the holidays.
