More than 100,000 companies in Italy are under threat of closure due to rising electricity bills, Corriere della Sera reports, citing Carlo Sangali, head of the Italian business association Confcommercio.
"Many companies are already reorganizing or reducing their services. Now by the first half of 2023. at least 120,000 small businesses in the service sector are at risk. These are cautious estimates that are not taken into account by the largest companies“ " Sangali told the media.
According to him, the situation may lead to the loss of more than 370,000 jobs. Sangali noted that energy prices in Italy are much higher than in other countries, which puts pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises.
"In terms of energy costs, our hotels, bars, restaurants and shops are paying 40-60% more for their bills this year than in Germany, and three times more than in France," Sangali said.
He noted that the energy crisis could deal the final blow to many businesses that have already become vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic. The officer stated that the country needs "good reforms and good investments" that will "break up our country to work better and in an easier way", and called for some of the support measures introduced during the pandemic to be restored.
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Italy, along with other EU countries, is struggling with record high inflation.
The country's annual inflation rate reached 8.4% in August, largely due to energy costs. Italy relies on importing about 75% of its energy.
At the beginning of this year, it received 40% of gas from Russia, but in July, Russian purchases of it decreased to 25% due to sanctions.
Earlier this month, Italy lost most of its supplies from Russia when Gazprom halted flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
According to a recent study, more than 70% of Italians have difficulties or are simply unable to pay their electricity bills. Nine out of ten plan to cut costs to pay for electricity, what they intend to do, how to limit going to restaurants, bars, recreation and clothing purchases.
https://obektivno.bg/100-000-firmi-v-italiya-sa-pred-falit-zaradi-energijnata-kriza-corriere-della-sera/
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