Inflation rises to 1.1 percent

• Air travel costs more
• Eurozone inflation more than twice Dutch rate

According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands, Dutch inflation rose to 1.1 percent in April 2010. This is 0.1 of a percent point higher than in March.

This increase in the inflation rate was caused mainly by the higher prices for air travel. Plane tickets cost 12.6 percent more on average in April than twelve months previously. Higher prices for vegetables and accommodation abroad also helped to push up inflation.

Inflation calculated according to the European harmonised method (HICP) fell to 0.6 percent. Eurostat estimates inflation in the eurozone to have risen to 1.5 percent in April. Eurozone inflation is therefore now more than twice as high as the Dutch rate of inflation. This is mainly because the effects of rising oil prices are delayed in the Netherlands compared with most other eurozone countries. Adjustments in gas and electricity prices mostly come into effect in January and July.