Inflation stable in May

Inflation remained stable in May. The consumer price index published by Statistics Netherlands shows that – just like in March and April – consumer prices were on average 1.8 percent higher than one year previously.

Dutch inflation according to the European harmonised method rose marginally to 2.0 percent. 

Petrol price marginally up   

Higher petrol prices pushed up inflation in May. The price of petrol was on average 2.8 percent higher than twelve months ago. In April, the price difference was only 0.1 percent on an annual basis.

Price developments for flowers and plants, on the other hand, had a downward effect on inflation. Flowers and plants were on average 4.6 percent more expensive than one year ago, but in April the price of these products was 18 percent higher than in April 2006. 

Dutch inflation rate exceeds eurozone average

Dutch inflation according to the European harmonised method (HICP) was 2.0 percent in May. In April, the Dutch HICP inflation rate was 1.9 percent.

The inflation rate in the Netherlands exceeds the eurozone average. A preliminary estimate by Eurostat reveals that the eurozone inflation rate in May was 1.9 percent.