Flash estimate of inflation: December

© ANP / Rob Engelaar
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports in a flash estimate that CPI-measured annual inflation stood at 9.6 percent in December 2022. The flash estimate was calculated on the basis of still incomplete source data. In November, consumer goods and services were 9.9 percent more expensive than one year previously. The regular consumer price index figures will be published on 10 January.

The flash estimate of CPI-measured inflation is new and will be published monthly from now on. Previously, CBS only published flash estimates based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). Go to this page for more on the introduction of the CPI flash estimate.

An inflation rate of 9.6 percent in December 2022 means that consumer prices were on average 9.6 percent higher than in December 2021. The 9.6-percent inflation rate is therefore not on top of the 9.9-percent inflation of November. 

Inflation (CPI)
YearMonthYear-on-year change (year-on-year % change)
2017January1.7
2017February1.8
2017March1.1
2017April1.6
2017May1.1
2017June1.1
2017July1.3
2017August1.4
2017September1.5
2017October1.3
2017November1.5
2017December1.3
2018January1.5
2018February1.2
2018March1
2018April1.1
2018May1.7
2018June1.7
2018July2.1
2018August2.1
2018September1.9
2018October2.1
2018November2
2018December2
2019January2.2
2019February2.6
2019March2.8
2019April2.9
2019May2.4
2019June2.7
2019July2.5
2019August2.8
2019September2.6
2019October2.7
2019November2.6
2019December2.7
2020January1.8
2020February1.6
2020March1.4
2020April1.2
2020May1.2
2020June1.6
2020July1.7
2020August0.7
2020September1.1
2020October1.2
2020November0.8
2020December1
2021January1.6
2021February1.8
2021March1.9
2021April1.9
2021May2.1
2021June2
2021July1.4
2021August2.4
2021September2.7
2021October3.4
2021November5.2
2021December5.7
2022January6.4
2022February6.2
2022March9.7
2022April9.6
2022May8.8
2022June8.6
2022July10.3
2022August12
2022September14.5
2022October14.3
2022November9.9
2022December9.6

Price development in special aggregates

In addition to the CPI inflation rate, CBS also publishes special aggregate indices as part of its flash estimate. Aggregates are groups in which different product categories are put together by theme. Four special aggregates together constitute total CPI expenditure. These include: non-energy industrial goods; energy including motor fuels; food, beverages and tobacco; and services.

CPI; annual rate of change of special aggregates
 December 2022 (%)November 2022 (%)
All items9.69.9
Non-energy industrial goods8.77.2
Energy including motor fuels30.041.3
Food, beverages and tobacco14.012.9
Services4.64.4

HICP flash estimate

As of 1996, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) publishes two different inflation rates, one based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and one based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). According to the HICP flash estimate, inflation stood at 11.0 percent in December. This was 11.3 percent in November.

In order to facilitate comparison of inflation rates, the member states of the European Union (EU) also compile a consumer price index according to internationally agreed definitions and methods. Eurostat calculates the inflation rates for the euro area and the European Union based on these harmonised indices from all EU countries. The European Central Bank (ECB) uses the HICP to formulate its monetary policies in the euro area. In addition, most countries produce their own national consumer price index.

For the Netherlands, the main difference between the CPI and the HICP is that, unlike the CPI, the HICP does not take into account the costs related to home ownership. In the CPI, these costs are calculated on the basis of rental property prices. However, this is not the only difference. This is further explained in a publication.

Sources