Inflation does not even spare the Day of the Dead and price increases also affect flowers. The turnover that revolves around the week of commemoration of the deceased is close to 300 million euros. And this year each family will spend on average around 30 euros to pay homage to their loved ones who are no longer with us. Assofioristi Confesercenti takes stock of this November 2nd. The costs of raw materials, which have increased by almost 20% due to the crazy climate, have an impact on the increased prices. «The drought, which often did not allow the harvests to be successful, and the bad weather of recent weeks, which destroyed fields and greenhouses, have forced producers to increase prices, because the quantity is small (-33% compared to 2023). An increase that affects buyers, but which has repercussions on traders, forced into very low margins”, explains president Ignazio Ferrante.
For florists, purchasing from the Netherlands, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ecuador means incurring additional costs, both for transport and for the maintenance of the goods, underlines Ferrante. But it’s not just logistics. «Our sector is brought to its knees, not only by the prices of raw materials, but also by the high commissions of the POS and by the competition of squatters who, during important occasions such as that of November 2nd, as well as for Valentine’s Day or for March 8th , they sell low quality, tax-free goods. Illegal market which, every year, takes away around 400 million euros from regular operators.” The category does not want to be forgotten and makes an appeal to the government. «We ask for help from floral distribution companies: small shops, kiosks and garden centers which, over the years, have made cities lively and safer. Letting our sector die, like others, means contributing to the commercial desertification of villages and large centres. And above all to proliferate irregular sales that thrive precisely in those places where finding certain types of goods or services is becoming almost impossible.”
The balance of the bridge of the dead also sees an overtaking on the sales front: Halloween has officially surpassed Carnival, with a boom in purchases that this year sees it second only to Christmas. The observatory of the large-scale retail trade group “Il Gigante” records an increase of 25% compared to last year in the purchase of costumes, decorations and gadgets. and 20% for cakes and desserts with the symbols and colors of the “witches’ night”. The trend of “real” pumpkins (+15%) used mainly as decorations was also very good.