Inflation rate increased to 1.2 percent in April

The Dutch inflation rate in April 2006 reached 1.2 percent. This is 0.2 percent points higher than in March, when prices were 1.0 percent higher than the year before. Rising inflation is mainly due to the price developments of fresh vegetables and petrol, according to the consumer price index (CPI) by Statistics Netherlands.

The Dutch inflation rate according to the European harmonised method (HICP) was 1.8 percent in April 2006.

Higher inflation due to fresh vegetables and petrol

The rising inflation rate in April 2006 is mainly caused by the price changes of fresh vegetables and petrol. The average price of fresh vegetables fell from April 2006 on March, but in 2005 this decrease was much larger. Furthermore the price increase of motor fuels was greater in April 2006 than in April 2005.

Also the price rise in women’s clothing helped raise the inflation rate. The lower costs of buying and selling stocks helped to keep the inflation rate down.

Dutch inflation rate according to the European calculation method up to 1.8 percent

According to the European harmonised method (HICP), the Dutch inflation rate reached 1.8 percent in April 2006. This is 0.4 percent point higher than in March. Eurostat, the European statistical bureau, expects the inflation rate in the eurozone to reach 2.4 percent in April. In March the inflation rate was 2.2 percent.

The Netherlands has one of the lowest inflation rates in the eurozone. Only Finland and Austria had lower inflation rates in March.