Data released by Italy's National Consumer Union (UNC) on Monday revealed that fresh fruit witnessed the highest price increase of 4.4% as opposed to the previous month, followed by olive oil at 3%, while butter and pastry increased by no more than 2% monthly.

UNC President Massimiliano Dona explained, "The data points to a failure of the anti-inflationary quarter."

"There were virtually no discounts on fresh fruit due to extremely volatile and unstable prices. Noteworthy is the fact that baby food ranked third, having risen in price by 2.9% over the month, and by 12.8% compared to November 2022, even as products for children were specifically mentioned in the [government] protocol."

Consumer union Altroconsumo stated previously that the living standards of Italian households were declining, with food prices staggering weekly.

The union added that many were shopping for cheaper products or eliminating products from their grocery lists.

"It is a shame that pasta, the symbol of Italian cuisine, continues to rise in price, despite already astronomical prices," Dona expressed.

Dona called the report "alarming" and stated that "Italians are on a forced diet due to skyrocketing inflation."

A survey earlier this year by the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) demonstrates that household grocery spending plunged 3.7% in 2022, and 8.7% in the fourth quarter of 2022, as opposed to the first quarter of 2021.