Inflation further up

• Higher motor fuel prices cause inflation to rise
• Wider gap between Dutch and eurozone inflation rates

According to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands, inflation was 0.7 percent in October 2009. In September, consumer prices were 0.4 percent higher than one year previously.

The increase is predominantly caused by higher petrol, diesel and LPG prices. In October, prices at petrol stations were 3.5 percent below the level of one year previously, but in September they were 12.1 percent down on September 2008. This had an upward effect on the inflation.

Inflation in the Netherlands calculated according to the European harmonised method (HICP) rose to 0.4 percent in October, as against 0.0 percent in the preceding month. Eurostat estimates inflation in the eurozone at -0.1 percent in October. The eurozone rate was -0.3 percent in September. The gap between the Dutch and eurozone inflation rates widens further to 0.5 percentage points.

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