Eating lunch at
restaurants and bars on workdays has long been the custom in Italy.
However, recent statistics reveal that the price of lunch has
skyrocketed over the years. Prices are up 116 percent since 2001 and
8 percent since last year, according to the Osservatorio Nazionale
Federconsumatori. A plate of pasta, water, fruit salad and a coffee
cost just 5.53 euro in 2001; today, the same meal can run workers up
to 12 euro. As a result, one Italian in three has started to bring
his or her lunch from home.
