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Italians are the most fearful population in the entire Eurozone when it comes to their finances. This, at least, is what emerges from the new Eurobarometer survey, published by the European Commission in December 2025. No one is more afraid than Italians that inflation will rise again next year; and no one is as pessimistic when it comes to earnings in 2026, given that nearly one in four thinks they will decline, while just one in ten believes they will increase.

The survey also focuses on the relationship with the single currency. It’s hardly true that Italians are Euroskeptical, given that approximately two in three see the euro as a positive factor for their country. But there’s certainly less enthusiasm compared to most other countries that have adopted it.

In 2026, earnings will be lower and prices will rise more

One of the contextual questions pollsters asked before addressing the issue of the single currency concerns household income. In just over a thousand phone calls with a representative sample of Italian citizens, 28% said they earned less than last year. This is the second-highest percentage overall among the countries surveyed, second only to Greece at 31%.

In short, more than one in four says they are worse off financially. And perhaps even more significant is how many say they are better off: just 10% say they had a higher income than the previous year. This is significantly the lowest result in the entire Eurozone, with Ireland coming in second to last with 16%, compared to the European average of 22%.

Things are no different when it comes to expectations for the future. Nearly one in four Italians, 23%, expects to end up with a lower income. This is on par with Greece and well above the European figure of 14%. And only 11% expect to earn more. Here, the gap is even wider: the second most pessimistic country is Finland, where 20% of residents still expect a higher income, almost double that of Italy.

The same negative expectations are reflected when it comes to inflation, that is, prices. After peaking in 2022-2023, prices have slowed significantly over the last two years. But Italians continue to fear that inflation will rise again. In fact, 84% of those surveyed believe it will be higher than this year. This is a very high percentage: the European average is 50%.

Italians are ‘lukewarm’ on the euro: nearly 30% say it’s a bad thing.

The central section of the survey is dedicated to the relationship with the euro. More than twenty years after its introduction, Italians have now widely accepted the single currency, although not everyone is convinced it’s a good thing.

In fact, “only” 61% say it’s a “good thing” for Italy. The European average here is 70%. The most ardent supporters of the euro are the Finns with 87%, followed by the Irish at 84%. On the other hand, 29% of Italians believe the single currency is bad for their country. Leading the Eurosceptics are Croatians with 51% (Croatia only adopted the euro in 2023), while essentially on par with Italy are Cyprus (29%), Greece, the Netherlands (28%), and Spain (27%). The average is 22%.

When it comes to symbolic aspects, only 36% of Italians feel “more European” because of the euro, compared to an average of 53%. And even in practical terms, enthusiasm is less pronounced. 71% of Italians think the single currency has made it easier to compare prices and shop in different countries, including online, while for Europeans the figure is 81%. Has the single currency made travel easier and cheaper? Only 44% of Italians agree. Here, the overall average is 54%.

Support for the PNRR and the request to work together on the economy

Finally, there are two areas on which Italian citizens appear more pro-European than others, in a certain sense. The first is the question of coordination between EU governments when it comes to economic and budgetary policies. A full 82% believe there should be more cohesive and coordinated work, while just 4% say more autonomy is needed. European averages point in the same direction, but are less extreme: 66% favor more coordination, 12% oppose it.

The second area on which Italians are decidedly favorable towards the EU is the support funds provided after Covid. Namely, for Italy—the largest borrower overall—the PNRR. 82% believe these measures were positive, compared to a European average of 67%.

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