07.10.2026, Rome.
September inflation in Italy reached 4.2%, a three-year maximum, the diesel fuel made an all-time record, and the Meloni government has no working methods to stop this before the election in one year and half, the European office of Rossa Primavera News Agency believes.
On September 30, the National Institute of Statistics, Istat, reported: inflation in Italy in September reached 4.2% in per year terms, which is a three-year maximum. Energy and fresh foods prices are rising. At the same time, households and businesses are losing confidence. Five days earlier, on September 25, average diesel price was 2.34 Euro per liter, i.e. higher than ever since records began, and gasoline was 2.15 Euro. On September 28, Eni established the highest prices on its gas stations, i.e. 2.19 Euro for diesel and 1.99 Euro for gasoline.
This inflation did not come from inside. The Italians did not begin to buy more; the basic value, i.e. prices without energy and fresh foods components, remain low. Prices increase for imports. Due to the long-term crisis in Middle East the oil prices, according to Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, increased by nearly 80%, and gas by up to 156%. This is paid by the Italian consumer.
Meanwhile, resilience had already been lost. Europe had broken its energy connections with Russia for more expensive and remote supplies, so it had no alternative when Middle East shortage began. This is especially relevant for diesel fuel as it is now imported from the US, Middle East, and India, so diesel fuel in Italy is now more expensive than gasoline although it was always the opposite.
This is why the government’s attempts to decrease the prices fail. Almost 2.5 billion Euro was spent to reduce the excise duties. Discounts became available for everyone, i.e. both those who travel to work by a small car and those who use a huge off-road car, but the price remained almost the same. When the discounts began to be canceled, the price cap was established by Eni, not by the treasury, under the control of the government. Administered pricing came back, although it was presented as a voluntary decision made by business, which the government publicly thanked.
Now the budget has no more money for these benefits, and Rome goes to Brussels for it. The point is that inflation itself raises budget expenditures, and the caps for these expenditures are fixed and cannot be revised. The issue will be discussed at a meeting of the EU finance ministers on October 9.
Neither the excise duties nor prices cap on the gas stations or relief from Brussels can remove the cause of increased prices itself. As long as the conflict in Middle East continues and Italy remains dependent on fuel import it is just an anesthetic. G7 decision of October 2 to bring 100 million barrels to the market indicates the same, i.e. that there are no other means left. For the government aimed at the elections of 2027 this is a great problem as the voter looks at the prices at the gas station rather than statistics.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
