The thirteenth is coming. In fact, starting from next Monday, 16.3 million pensioners will begin to receive it, while by Christmas it will also be paid to 19.7 million employees in the public and private sector. Overall, this additional monthly payment will be paid to 36 million Italians. The CGIA Research Office reports that the Christmas bonus will not only “reward” pensioners, workers and employees, but will also represent a significant income for the treasury, with Irpef revenue estimated at 13.8 billion euros. Consequently, before taxes, INPS, public administrations and private employers will have to support a total economic commitment of 55.9 billion euros to honor the payment of the thirteenth salary. So that, net of taxes, a good 42 billion euros will arrive in the pockets of Italians.
ALSO THE «MOTHERS BONUS» AND HELP FOR PENSIONERS AT THE MINIMUM COMING
A new feature introduced this year concerns the “mothers bonus”, which will be paid in December to employed or self-employed women with two or more dependent children and with an annual income of less than 40,000 euros. The amount, paid one-off, is equal to 40 euros for each month worked in 2025 and cannot exceed 480 euros. Furthermore, the disbursement in December of a bonus of almost 155 euros to INPS pensioners over 64 with very low incomes is also confirmed for the current year. To benefit from this contribution, those entitled must receive an annual pension not exceeding the INPS minimum payment, set at 7,844.20 euros. This limit must be related to the total income of the pensioner, whether single or as a couple, which must fall within specific thresholds established by current legislation.
WE WILL SPEND 10 BILLION ON CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Given the trend in household consumption recorded in the first part of the year, the CGIA Research Office estimates that, compared to last year, the overall amount of spending on Christmas gifts remains stable and equal to around 10 billion. An amount that has however decreased by around a third compared to 10 years ago. How come? Firstly because many Italians, taking advantage of Black Friday, anticipate the purchase of gifts to put under the tree towards the end of November. Secondly, because in recent years families have decreased the budget allocated to “accessory” purchases and this has led to a drop in spending on Christmas gifts.
FOOD AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ARE THE MOST POPULAR GIFTS
This year too, food and alcoholic beverages should confirm themselves as the type of Christmas gift most purchased by Italians: followed by toys, technological products, books, clothing/shoes, travel, spa stays and personal care items. There is no doubt that even the so-called “digital” gifts will be among the most popular, as they can be purchased without having to go to physical stores, they will undergo a further increase compared to the volumes recorded last year. In particular, subscriptions to streaming platforms and gift vouchers for online purchases.
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS IN ROME, MILAN AND TURIN
At a geographical level, the province of Italy that has the highest number of beneficiaries of the thirteenth month’s salary is that of Rome: between employees and pensioners, the people affected will be 2.75 million. Followed by Milan with 2.48 million recipients, Naples with 1.42 million beneficiaries and Turin with 1.4 million people. The areas least affected, also because they are demographically smaller than the others, are the provinces of Vibo Valentia with almost 74,300 recipients, Enna with just over 71,500 and Isernia with around 43,650.
MANY EMPLOYEES AND SAME PENSIONERS ALSO RECEIVE THE 14TH
As regards employees, all collective bargaining agreements provide, by law, for the thirteenth month’s salary. Furthermore, according to an estimate by the CGIA Research Office, there are approximately 8 million employees in the private sector who also benefit from the 14th salary. The same is paid in the month of July. The main national employment contracts that provide for this additional monthly salary are: agriculture, food, road transport, commerce/tourism and the cleaning/multiservice sector. The fourteenth is also due to pensioners who have reached 64 years of age, it is paid in July and the recipient must meet certain conditions. Among these, the overall income must not exceed twice the minimum annual payment which in 2025 is equal to 15,688.40 euros.
THE WISH
With the arrival of the thirteenth year, paychecks and pensions will be heavier in December. Now, with more money available, we hope that at least during the holidays, family consumption will start to grow again. This would also help the budgets of many artisan and small business activities which, without new collections, risk closing the year at a loss. The progressive disappearance of neighborhood shops, which in recent years has affected numerous historic centers and various peripheral areas, is unfortunately also attributable to the decline in family spending, increasingly “absorbed” by purchases of food, drinks, bills and mortgages.