Inflation at 3.5 percent in May, according to flash estimate
- Inflation rose to 3.5 percent in May, according to the flash estimate.
- In April, inflation stood at 2.8 percent.
- The regular consumer price index (CPI) figures for May will be published on 9 June.
The inflation rate stood at 3.5 percent in May 2026, according to the flash estimate of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The flash estimate is based on source data that is not yet complete. In April, inflation stood at 2.8 percent.
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. According to the flash estimate, consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent higher in May than they were in April.
The regular consumer price index (CPI) figures for May will be published on 9 June.
| year | month | Inflation (year-on-year % change of the CPI) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2026 | January | 2.4 |
| 2026 | February | 2.4 |
| 2026 | March | 2.7 |
| 2026 | April | 2.8 |
| 2026 | May | 3.5 |
Short-term price trends
According to the flash estimate, consumer prices rose by 0.1 percent higher in May than they were in April. Over the past ten years, the month-on-month change in May was -0.1 percent per year, on average. It should be noted that when comparing two consecutive months, seasonal influences must be taken into account. For example, the average price for clothing is lower during sales periods. However, these lower prices are temporary rather than structural.
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 change for all categories in the CPI will be published on 9 June.
| May 2026 (%) | April 2026 (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 3.5 | 2.8 |
| Food, beverages and tobacco | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Energy including motor fuels | 9.9 | 7.9 |
| Non-energy industrial goods | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| Services | 4.7 | 3.6 |
| Consumption abroad | 5.6 | 3.4 |
HICP flash estimate
Statistics Netherlands 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 flash estimate, inflation stood at 3.4 percent in May. In April, the HICP inflation rate was 2.5 percent.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. Niet beschikbaar in het Engels.
New base year for CPI with effect from 2026
With effect from this year, 2026, a new base year will be used for the CPI and the HICP. The base year will change from 2015=100 to 2025=100. More information can be found in the methodology document linked below: The consumer price index from 2026.Sources
- StatLine - Consumer Price Index CPI 2025=100
- StatLine - Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices HICP 2025=100
- Dashboard - Consumer prices dashboard
Related items
- Long read - Consumer price index from 2026
- Dossier - Business cycle