Inflation rate slightly up

Dutch inflation was 1.6 percent in September, i.e. 0.1 percentage points up on August. The increase was mainly caused by price developments for petrol. Inflation is defined as the increase in the consumer price index (CPI) compared to the same month in the previous year.

Petrol price developments had an upward effect on inflation. Petrol prices were 8.3 percent higher in September 2010 than in September 2009, versus 4.7 percent in August this year compared to August last year.

Housing, water and energy (0.4 percentage points) and transport (0.4 percentage points) contributed most to September's inflation rate, whereas clothing and footwear had a downward effect on inflation of 0.1 percentage points.

The harmonised consumer price index (HICP) allows comparison between the inflation rates in the member states of the European Union (EU). According to the HICP, Dutch inflation was 1.4 percent in September. Eurostat, the European statistical office, calculated an inflation rate of 1.8 percent in the eurozone. September was the tenth month in a row to record a lower inflation rate in the Netherlands than in the eurozone.

For more information on Dutch inflation, see Statistics Netherlands’ online video on YouTube.

Dutch inflation