ROME  --  The number of people living in absolute poverty in Italy has doubled from 2.4 million to 4.8 million, but the country is expected to rise from the recession by year's end, the national statistics agency Istat has reported.

 

Antonio Golini, the president of Istat, spoke before a bicameral parliamentary committee on budget stability on Tuesday where he explained that Italy's economic recession "has led to serious consequences." 

 

Signor Golini highlighted that from 2007 to 2012, the number of people living in absolute poverty had doubled. He explained that roughly one half of those living in poverty live in the southern regions of Italy and that over one million of the poor are children. He also stated that in the first half of 2013, 17 percent of Italian households decreased the amount of food they purchased, while also choosing inferior products in an effort to save money. 

 

Signor Golini did end on a positive note however, stating that by the end of 2013, the recessive phase that Italy entered in 2011 will begin to end.