Inflation rate stable at 2.5 percent

• Prices petrol and fresh vegetables have upward effect on inflation
• Clothes prices have downward effect on inflation
• Dutch inflation rate above eurozone level

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, inflation was 2.5 percent in February 2012, the same as in January. Inflation has been quite stable since July 2011.

Prices of petrol and fresh vegetables had an upward effect on inflation in February. Petrol prices were 7.8 percent up on twelve months previously, but clothes prices had a downward effect on inflation.

Inflation according to the European harmonised method (HICP) was 2.9 percent in the Netherlands. According to Eurostat, the eurozone inflation rate rose to 2.7 percent in February. Hence, the Dutch rate is above the eurozone level.