Inflation rate creeps up to 1.6 percent

• Inflation rate marginally up due to petrol prices
• Dutch inflation remains below eurozone level
  

September’s inflation rate was 1.6 percent, versus 1.5 percent in August. The latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands show that the Dutch inflation rate has gradually risen after a dip in mid-2009.

Petrol prices had an upward effect on inflation. They were 8.3 percent higher in September than in September last year. The price increase of one litre of Euro 95 was 12 euro cents relative to one year previously versus nearly 7 euro cents in August.

According to the European harmonised method (HICP), the Dutch inflation rate rose to 1.4 percent. Eurostat calculated that the eurozone inflation rate was 1.8 percent in September.