Italians to spend 4.6 bn on festive food

(ANSA) - Rome, December 19 - Italians are to spend approximately 4.6 billion euros on the traditional Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve meals this year, Confcooperative said Monday.
    This translates into an average expenditure per family of 106 euros. Some 90% of Italians will celebrate Christmas at home, while New Year will see the percentage drop to 70%. Confcooperative says over 60 million bottles of sparkling wine will be uncorked, up 6% compared to last year. Italians will spend an estimated 520 million euros on meat, cured meats and eggs, 450 million euros on fish, 430 million euros on wine, sparkling wine and prosecco, 420 million euros on traditional pandoro and panettone Christmas cakes and other sweets, 400 million euros on fresh fruit and vegetables, 230 million euros on pasta, bread, flour and oil, and 90 million euros on each of sea food and fresh and mature cheese, Confcooperative said.