View of Rome, Italy ROME, Apr 1Massimiliano Dona, President of the National Union of Italian Consumers, commenting on the latest official statistics on inflation, called a «catastrophe» a sharp rise in prices and numerous speculations recorded in the Apennines against the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. On Thursday, the National Institute of Statistics (Istat) published preliminary data on inflation in Italy, which in March increased by 6.7% compared to the same period last year. Inflation continues to rise for the ninth month in a row, and statistics have not recorded such a high rate since July 1991.There are many spectacles, bread is not enough. Are hunger riots threatening the world «A catastrophe! The effect of Ukraine! A sharp jump caused by speculation that arose after the start of the conflict and threatens to turn into a mortal blow to the pockets of families,» Don said in a statement, the text of which was received by RIA Novosti. «Inflation at 6, 7% for a couple with two children means an increase in the cost of living by 2,369 euros per year: 1,052 euros for housing, water and electricity only, 654 euros for transport, 434 euros for food and drinks,” emphasizes the head of the consumer union. Moreover, according to these calculations, the cost of living for a married couple without children or large families will increase even more. Dona also drew particular attention to the rapid rise in prices for gas and electricity, as well as for gasoline and diesel fuel. Many experts and politicians in Italy are now expressing concern about strong inflation. Thus, the president of the northern Italian region of Veneto, Luca Zaia, said on Thursday about «the danger that prices will never return to their previous values.» «We are at risk of shutting down production. We are at war without bombs,» he told Corriere della Sera newspaper. He stressed that there is an «unreasonable increase in fuel prices», although there are no «technical reasons» for it. According to him, we are talking about a «speculative spiral.» Following this statement by the Minister, the Rome Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into the sharp increase in the prices of gas, electricity, gasoline and diesel fuel in Italy. prepares for famineRussian Ambassador to Italy Sergey Razov drew attention in this regard to the fact that the rise in prices in the country and, in particular, the increase in gas and electricity tariffs by 2-3 times, were the result of anti-Russian sanctions, and not Russia's actions. I would like to emphasize that all these are the results of not some of our response measures that are taken in response to these thoughtlessly imposed sanctions… And this is precisely the result of sanctions imposed by Western partners, including EU countries,» he said in a Thursday on the air of the channel «Russia 24».
