Inflation at 3.7 percent in March according to flash estimate

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© CBS / Nikki van Toorn
The inflation rate in the Netherlands stood at 3.7 percent in March, according to the flash estimate of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This estimate is based on source data that is not yet complete. Inflation was 3.8 percent in February.
Inflation is measured every month as the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) relative to the same month of the previous year. The CPI also provides an insight into how prices changed compared to the previous month. According to the flash estimate, consumer prices rose by 0.4 percent in March 2025 relative to February 2025.

The regular consumer price index (CPI) figures for March will be published on 8 April.


Short-term price trends

The CPI not only provides an insight into price changes relative to one year previously (the CPI inflation rate), but also changes relative to the previous month. According to the flash estimate, consumer prices rose by 0.4 percent in March 2025 relative to February 2025.

It should be noted that when comparing two different months in the same year, seasonal influences must be taken into account. For example, airline tickets are more expensive in holiday months than outside the holiday season. These higher prices are temporary rather than structural, however. Month-on-month changes are often more volatile than year-on-year changes as a result of seasonal influences like this.

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Price changes across various product groups

In addition to the inflation rate, CBS also publishes price changes for a number of product groups as part of its flash estimate. These product groups are broad spending categories, such as ‘all services’. The price changes for all the categories in the CPI will be published on 8 April.


HICP flash estimate

CBS publishes two different figures for inflation. One is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the other on the European Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). According to the HICP flash estimate, inflation stood at 3.4 percent in March. In February 2025, it stood at 3.5 percent.

In order to facilitate comparison between countries, EU member states calculate their consumer price indices according to internationally agreed definitions and methods. Eurostat uses the HICP figures from all EU countries to calculate the inflation rate for the euro area and the European Union. The European Central Bank (ECB) uses the HICP to formulate its monetary policies for the euro area. In addition, most countries publish a national consumer price index.

In the case of the Netherlands, the main difference between the CPI and the HICP is that the HICP does not take account of costs related to home ownership, while the CPI does. In the CPI, these costs are calculated based on changes in rents for housing. However, this is not the only difference. The differences are explained in greater detail in the article linked below.

Consumer price index from 2026

With effect from 2026, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the European Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) will move to a new base year, from 2015=100 to 2025=100. An update to the classification of goods and services will also come into use in 2026, in order to reflect current consumption patterns better. The CPI will also be brought more into line with the HICP from 2026 onwards. It is worth noting that these changes will not affect inflation figures that have already been published. The first figures based on the new series with the reference year 2025 will be published in early February 2026. For more information, go to: Consumer price index from 2026 | CBS.

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