Inflation rate up to 2.5 percent

• Petrol, gas and electricity prices contribute to inflation
• Costs supplementary health care insurance 5.5 percent up

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, the inflation rate in the Netherlands rose to 2.5 percent in January. In December, consumer prices were 2.4 percent higher than one year previously. Petrol, gas and electricity prices contributed noticeably to inflation.

The average petrol price of 1.688 euro per litre for Euro95 at the filling station was 6 percent up in January 2012 from January 2011. The average monthly price level over January was unprecedentedly high.

Gas and electricity prices were respectively 9.8 and 6.5 percent higher in January from twelve months ago, the most substantial price increases since June 2009.

The costs of supplementary health care insurance premiums on average rose by 5.5 percent in January 2012. Supplementary health care insurance premiums are annually adjusted in January.

Inflation according to the European harmonised method (HICP) increased to 2.9 percent in the Netherlands. According to Eurostat, the eurozone inflation rate remained stable at 2.7 percent in January.

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