Dutch inflation rate stable in March

• Food prices more than 5 percent higher than one year ago
• Netherlands has lowest inflation rate in Europe

March’s inflation rate of 2.2 percent was the same as in February. Since September 2007, food prices have forced up inflation. In March, the upward trend was partially set off by lower prices for clothes. The consumer price index published by Statistics Netherlands shows that clothing articles were indeed marginally cheaper in March 2008 than in March 2007.
Dutch inflation according to the European harmonised method (HICP) dropped somewhat in March relative to February. On the other hand, Eurostat estimates that the eurozone inflation rate has risen in March. As a result, the gap between the Dutch rate and the eurozone rate has widened. Since November 2007, the Netherlands has the lowest inflation rate in the eurozone.

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