Dutch inflation dips to 3.6% in August

Daily life became 3.6 percent more expensive in the Netherlands in August, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported in a first estimate on Friday. That puts inflation slightly below July’s 3.7 percent. The price development of motor fuel was the main reason for the slight decrease.

In August, the prices of motor fuels decreased by 3.2 percent after remaining stable in July. The prices for other industrial goods also decreased more in August (-0.9 percent) than in July (-0,7 percent).

Food prices and services had an upward effect on inflation. Food, drinks, and tobacco products became 5.6 percent more expensive in August after price increases of 5.2 percent in July. The prices for services increased by 5.8 percent, compared to 5.7 percent last month.

CBS will present more complete inflation figures for August on September 10. This initial estimate is to get the figure published on the same day that Eurostat publishes the inflation figures for the European Union.

Based on the European harmonized method, which differs from CBS’s in that it does not include the costs of living in your own house, Dutch inflation was 3.3 percent in August and 3.5 percent in July.