Italy industry, consumers feel rising prices bite

The Giambarini Group's plants in northern Italy must keep zinc baths that rustproof steel and iron parts super-heated around the clock, an energy-intensive process that has grown exponentially more costly as natural gas prices spike. 

In July and August, industrial energy use dropped by double digits mostly because of scaled-back production which experts say could affect economic growth and employment in the coming months. At the same time, three-quarters of Italian households expect even more pain this autumn with higher bills, according to the SWG polling institute. The energy crisis facing Italian industry and households is a top voter concern going into Sunday's parliamentary elections as fears grow that astronomically high bills will shutter some businesses, at least temporarily and force household rationing by winter.Pollsters and energy experts say these similarities between the parties have made it difficult for voters to be moved by energy policy.