By Becky Evans PUBLISHED: 07:05 EST, 22 May 2013 | UPDATED: 07:05 EST, 22 May 2013 Millions of Italians cannot afford to heat their homes properly or eat meat as their country is racked by recession and soaring unemployment, according to a new report. Researchers found the number of people considered seriously deprived has doubled in the past two years. The findings from national statistics institute ISTAT underline the scale of the challenge faced by the new coalition government of Enrico Letta, which has vowed to stimulate growth and tackle a youth jobless rate of almost 40 per cent.
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Italians struggle to heat homes or buy meat as poverty doubles in two years
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Youth unemployment stands at 40% and new PM vows to stimulate growth
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8.6million or 14% of population say they are seriously deprived
About 14.9million people, or a quarter of Italy's 61million population, are living in families that meet three of more of @placeholder's poverty indicators.