Pasta sales increase

As most of us are aware prices seem to be rising everywhere, from oil to a slice of pizza. One place where rising prices are affecting people is here in Italy. According to a recent study by the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA) pasta sales have fallen by 2.6 % in the last year as prices rose by 20% on pasta. The rise insrices is due to major populated countries such as China and India raising the demand for wheat based products. While the cost of oil is rising, it is causing the cost of transporting the grains to increase which leads to higher pasta prices.

These increases in prices are changing the buying habits of many Italian residents as they search for cheaper protein enriched foods. Both chicken and egg sales have increased by 4% since this change. The CIA also believe that a lifestlye change is occurring in the eating habits of Italians, "More Italians are now buying chicken pieces instead of pasta, fried foods instead of vegetables and cheese instead of fruit, " according to a CIA report. Many wonder whether this trend of less pasta eating will continue to decrease and the Mediterranean cuisine may be less popular as it once flourished. Most consumers do agree that these prices are here to stay. I guess that I will just have to live with the high prices of pasta because there is no way that I can live without it in my diet!

Adams, Stephen. "Pasta sales fall in Italy as prices soar." 5/6/2008. The British Telegraph. 5/27/08. < http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1930791/Pasta-sales-fall-in-Italy-as-prices-soar.html>