Highest increase consumer prices in almost 5 years
The consumer price index (CPI) is an important indicator for inflation, but not the only one. It is an index for price changes in a basket of consumer goods and services, such as groceries, clothing, petrol, rent and insurance premiums. Inflation is a broader term which covers more than consumer goods and services; for example, prices of owner-occupied houses, manufactured products, shares and gold are also subject to change.
| mutatie (year-on-year % change) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | J | 1.4 |
| 2014 | F | 1.1 |
| 2014 | M | 0.8 |
| 2014 | A | 1.2 |
| 2014 | M | 0.8 |
| 2014 | J | 0.9 |
| 2014 | J | 0.9 |
| 2014 | A | 1 |
| 2014 | S | 0.9 |
| 2014 | O | 1.1 |
| 2014 | N | 1 |
| 2014 | D | 0.7 |
| 2015 | J | 0 |
| 2015 | F | 0.2 |
| 2015 | M | 0.4 |
| 2015 | A | 0.6 |
| 2015 | M | 1.1 |
| 2015 | J | 1 |
| 2015 | J | 1 |
| 2015 | A | 0.8 |
| 2015 | S | 0.6 |
| 2015 | O | 0.6 |
| 2015 | N | 0.7 |
| 2015 | D | 0.7 |
| 2016 | J | 0.6 |
| 2016 | F | 0.6 |
| 2016 | M | 0.6 |
| 2016 | A | 0 |
| 2016 | M | 0 |
| 2016 | J | 0 |
| 2016 | J | -0.2 |
| 2016 | A | 0.2 |
| 2016 | S | 0.1 |
| 2016 | O | 0.4 |
| 2016 | N | 0.6 |
| 2016 | D | 1 |
| 2017 | J | 1.7 |
| 2017 | F | 1.8 |
| 2017 | M | 1.1 |
| 2017 | A | 1.6 |
| 2017 | M | 1.1 |
| 2017 | J | 1.1 |
| 2017 | J | 1.3 |
| 2017 | A | 1.4 |
| 2017 | S | 1.5 |
| 2017 | O | 1.3 |
| 2017 | N | 1.5 |
| 2017 | D | 1.3 |
| 2018 | J | 1.5 |
| 2018 | F | 1.2 |
| 2018 | M | 1 |
| 2018 | A | 1.1 |
| 2018 | M | 1.7 |
| 2018 | J | 1.7 |
| 2018 | J | 2.1 |
Price increase house rents higher
Mainly due to the price development of house rents, the inflation rate was higher than in June. Dutch house rents are annually raised in July. The average residential rent increase was 2.3 percent in July 2018, versus 1.6 percent in July 2017. Price developments of natural gas and electricity also had an upward effect on consumer prices.
| June 2018 (percentage point) | July 2018 (percentage point) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| Housing, water and energy | 0.64 | 0.88 |
| Transport | 0.54 | 0.55 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 0.18 | 0.22 |
| Consumption abroad | 0.14 | 0.19 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Recreatie en cultuur | 0.06 | 0.07 |
| Food and non alcoholic beverages | -0.01 | 0.01 |
| Communication | -0.16 | -0.16 |
Rise in Dutch consumer prices lower than in eurozone
In addition to the consumer price index (CPI), CBS also calculates the European harmonised price index (HICP).
In July, HICP-based prices of goods and services in the Netherlands were 1.9 percent up year-on-year, versus 1.7 percent in June. In the eurozone, the price increase went up from 2.0 to 2.1 percent.
| The Netherlands (year-on-year % change) | Euro area (year-on-year % change) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | J | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| 2014 | F | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| 2014 | M | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| 2014 | A | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 2014 | M | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| 2014 | J | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 2014 | J | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| 2014 | A | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 2014 | S | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 2014 | O | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 2014 | N | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| 2014 | D | -0.1 | -0.2 |
| 2015 | J | -0.7 | -0.6 |
| 2015 | F | -0.5 | -0.3 |
| 2015 | M | -0.3 | -0.1 |
| 2015 | A | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | M | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 2015 | J | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2015 | J | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| 2015 | A | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| 2015 | S | 0.3 | -0.1 |
| 2015 | O | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| 2015 | N | 0.4 | 0.1 |
| 2015 | D | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| 2016 | J | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 2016 | F | 0.3 | -0.2 |
| 2016 | M | 0.5 | 0 |
| 2016 | A | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| 2016 | M | -0.2 | -0.1 |
| 2016 | J | -0.2 | 0.1 |
| 2016 | J | -0.6 | 0.2 |
| 2016 | A | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| 2016 | S | -0.1 | 0.4 |
| 2016 | O | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| 2016 | N | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| 2016 | D | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| 2017 | J | 1.6 | 1.8 |
| 2017 | F | 1.7 | 2 |
| 2017 | M | 0.6 | 1.5 |
| 2017 | A | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| 2017 | M | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 2017 | J | 1 | 1.3 |
| 2017 | J | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| 2017 | A | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 2017 | S | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| 2017 | O | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| 2017 | N | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 2017 | D | 1.2 | 1.4 |
| 2018 | J | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| 2018 | F | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 2018 | M | 1 | 1.3 |
| 2018 | A | 1 | 1.3 |
| 2018 | M | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| 2018 | J | 1.7 | 2 |
| 2018 | J | 1.9 | 2.1 |
The HICP is compiled according to the European harmonised method in order to facilitate comparison between the various EU member states. Price indices for the eurozone and the European Union as a whole are calculated on the basis of the HICPs of the individual member states. The European Central Bank (ECB) uses these figures to formulate its monetary policy.
Unlike the CPI, the HICP does not take into account the costs related to home ownership. In the Dutch CPI, these costs are calculated on the basis of rent levels.
Sources
- StatLine - Consumer prices
Related items
- Dossier - Business Cycle