ROME, March 11 (Xinhua) -- About 6.7 million Italians, or 11.1 percent of the recession-mired country's population, are in economic difficulty, a joint report by national statistics agency Istat and the National Council of Economy and Labour (CNEL) showed on Monday.
The report said that the indicator of people in "severe deprivation" marked a significant climb to 11.1 percent in 2011, up from 6.9 percent in 2010, which suggested 2.5 million more Italian people were counted into dire straits.
Moreover, according to the report, the country's household spending power dropped 5 percent in the period between 2007 and 2011, in terms of crisis' impact on social lives.
Nearly one in four young people aged between 15 and 29 were not engaged in any training or job in 2011, while the employment rate of people from 20 to 64 years old decreased from 63 percent in 2008 to 61.2 percent in 2011.
The escalating crisis has put the country into a full-on recession that is considered to be the deepest in Europe by Fitch rating agency, which cut Italy's credit rating on Friday with a negative outlook due to the "inconclusive result" of last month's national election.
A new government is still not in sight since the center-left coalition, despite coming first in the vote, failed to win a working majority in the Senate.
There is still no sign that the gridlock will be resolved after the Five Star Movement, lead by comedian-turned politician Beppe Grillo, on Sunday ruled out forming a hung parliament with the lower house winner, which has caused investors to worry about a double dip recession in eurozone.
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