Coldiretti says Italians spend less on Easter long weekend

(ANSA) - Rome, April 21 - Italians have been enjoying the Easter long weekend with family, eating at home rather than spending on restaurants and travel, leading to a significant drop in holiday spending, says farm organization Coldiretti.
    Almost eight in 10 people chose to dine at home, with the traditional Easter lamb presiding over the table at about 40% of households, although a rising number are opting for vegetarian dishes, according to a survey by Ixe research, conducted for the farm organization.
    "With the vast majority opting for the homemade lunch at home with relatives and friends, but without leaving their city, the result is that this year the total expenditure of Italian families for the Easter menu has dropped," said the organization.
    Consumers have been hit hard by the deepest recession in Italy since the Second World War, and although the economy has since emerged from recession, unemployment remains at a record high 13% and Italians have been reluctant to spend.
    As a result, inexpensive eggs remain a popular dish, said Coldiretti, along with cheese and regional Easter cakes and other treats. Meanwhile, Monday dawned wet and cold in parts of Italy including the Lombardy region where intense rainfall caused traffic problems for holiday drivers.
    Near Milan, flooding blocked a highway underpass causing an early-morning accident and slowing rescue vehicles.