Inflation 2.8 percent in December, according to flash estimate
Inflation is measured every month as the year-on-year change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI also provides an insight into how prices changed compared to the previous month. In December, consumer prices were on average at almost the same level as in November.
The release of the December figure means it is possible to estimate inflation for 2025 as a whole. According to the flash estimate, consumer goods and services were 3.3 percent more expensive in 2025 than they were in 2024.
The regular consumer price index (CPI) figures for December and for 2025 as a whole will be published on 13 January.
| year | month | Inflation (year-on-year % change of the CPI) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | January | 1.8 |
| 2020 | February | 1.6 |
| 2020 | March | 1.4 |
| 2020 | April | 1.2 |
| 2020 | May | 1.2 |
| 2020 | June | 1.6 |
| 2020 | July | 1.7 |
| 2020 | August | 0.7 |
| 2020 | September | 1.1 |
| 2020 | October | 1.2 |
| 2020 | November | 0.8 |
| 2020 | December | 1.0 |
| 2021 | January | 1.6 |
| 2021 | February | 1.8 |
| 2021 | March | 1.9 |
| 2021 | April | 1.9 |
| 2021 | May | 2.1 |
| 2021 | June | 2.0 |
| 2021 | July | 1.4 |
| 2021 | August | 2.4 |
| 2021 | September | 2.7 |
| 2021 | October | 3.4 |
| 2021 | November | 5.2 |
| 2021 | December | 5.7 |
| 2022 | January | 6.4 |
| 2022 | February | 6.2 |
| 2022 | March | 9.7 |
| 2022 | April | 9.6 |
| 2022 | May | 8.8 |
| 2022 | June | 8.6 |
| 2022 | July | 10.3 |
| 2022 | August | 12.0 |
| 2022 | September | 14.5 |
| 2022 | October | 14.3 |
| 2022 | November | 9.9 |
| 2022 | December | 9.6 |
| 2023 | January | 7.6 |
| 2023 | February | 8.0 |
| 2023 | March | 4.4 |
| 2023 | April | 5.2 |
| 2023 | May | 6.1 |
| 2023 | June | 5.7 |
| 2023 | July | 4.6 |
| 2023 | August | 3.0 |
| 2023 | September | 0.2 |
| 2023 | October | -0.4 |
| 2023 | November | 1.6 |
| 2023 | December | 1.2 |
| 2024 | January | 3.2 |
| 2024 | February | 2.8 |
| 2024 | March | 3.1 |
| 2024 | April | 2.7 |
| 2024 | May | 2.7 |
| 2024 | June | 3.2 |
| 2024 | July | 3.7 |
| 2024 | August | 3.6 |
| 2024 | September | 3.5 |
| 2024 | October | 3.5 |
| 2024 | November | 4.0 |
| 2024 | December | 4.1 |
| 2025 | January | 3.3 |
| 2025 | February | 3.8 |
| 2025 | March | 3.7 |
| 2025 | April | 4.1 |
| 2025 | May | 3.3 |
| 2025 | June | 3.1 |
| 2025 | July | 2.9 |
| 2025 | August | 2.8 |
| 2025 | September | 3.3 |
| 2025 | October | 3.1 |
| 2025 | November | 2.9 |
| 2025 | December | 2.8 |
Short-term price trends
In December, consumer prices were on average at almost the same level as in November. It should be noted that when comparing two different months in the same year, seasonal influences must be taken into account. For example, clothing is cheaper during sales. These lower prices are temporary rather than structural, however.
Price changes across various product groups
In addition to the inflation rate, CBS also publishes price changes for a number of product groups as part of its flash estimate. These product groups are aggregations of spending categories for a particular theme, such as ‘all services’. The price changes for all categories of the CPI will be published on 13 January.
| December 2025 (%) | November 2025 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| Non-energy industrial goods | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Energy including motor fuels | -0.4 | 0.8 |
| Food, beverages and tobacco | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Services | 4.1 | 4.3 |
HICP flash estimate
CBS publishes two different figures for inflation. One is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the other on the European Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). According to the HICP, inflation stood at 2.5 percent in December (flash estimate), compared to 2.6 percent in November.
In the case of the Netherlands, the main difference between the CPI and the HICP is that the HICP does not take into account costs related to home ownership, unlike the CPI. In the CPI, these costs are calculated based on changes in rents for housing. This is not the only difference, however. The differences are explained in greater detail in the article linked below.
New base year CPI with effect from 2026
With effect from 2026, a new base year will be used for the CPI and the HICP, from 2015=100 to 2025=100. It is worth noting that these changes will not affect inflation figures that have already been published. At the same time, the classification of goods and services will be updated, in order to reflect changes in consumption patterns better. With effect from 2026, the CPI will also be brought more into line with the HICP. The first figures based on the new series with 2025 as the base year will be published in early February 2026. More information can be found in the methodology document linked below: The consumer price index from 2026.Sources
- StatLine CPI - Consumer prices; price index 2015=100
- StatLine HICP - Consumer prices; European harmonised price index 2015=100 (HICP)
- Article - Flash estimate of the consumer price index (CPI)
- Visualisation - Dashboard on consumer prices
- Article - Differences between consumer price figures
Related items
- Dossier - Business cycle
- Longread - Consumer price index from 2026