Dutch inflation rises to 2.7 percent

• Inflation pushed up by higher prices for clothes and petrol
• Telephone and internet services temper inflation

According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands today, Dutch inflation rose to 2.7 percent in September. It was up from 2.6 percent in August.

The rise in inflation was caused mainly by higher prices for clothes. In September clothing items cost 3.2 percent more than in the same month last year. Petrol prices also helped push up inflation. Motorists paid an average 1.67 euro for a litre of standard Euro95.

Prices of telephone and internet services tempered inflation somewhat, as the effect of the substantial increase in September last year has now worn off.

Inflation calculated in accordance with the European harmonised method (HICP) rose to 3.0 percent for the Netherlands. This is 0.2 of a percent point higher than in August. In the eurozone inflation was also 3.0 percent.