Daily life became 2.8 percent more expensive in February than in the same month a year ago. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reports this on the basis of final figures, which are the same as the quick estimate reported earlier.
In January inflation was still 3.2 percent. A smaller increase in food prices led to a drop in inflation in February.
Food products were 0.3 percent more expensive in February than a year earlier. In January prices were 2.1 percent higher than last year. The smaller price increase is mainly due to price developments of bread and grain products, vegetables and meat.
The prices of home products such as furniture and household items fell more sharply than a month earlier and also had a dampening effect on inflation developments. Prices for this product group were on average 2.7 percent lower in February than last year. In January the year-on-year price decline was 0.5 percent. The greater price drop in this product group is mainly due to the lower prices of home furniture and non-electric kitchen items such as pans.
Motor fuels
Motor fuels actually became more expensive last month, pushing up inflation. In February, motor fuels were 8.6 percent more expensive than in the same month last year. In January prices were 4.3 percent higher than a year earlier. A liter of Euro 95 cost an average of 1.97 euros in February, in January this was 1.91 euros. The price of a liter of diesel increased from 1.74 euros in January to 1.81 euros in February.
According to the European measuring method, which is slightly different from that of Statistics Netherlands, prices rose by 2.7 percent on an annual basis in February. In January that was 3.1 percent. The method agreed within the European Union to measure inflation does not take into account the costs of living in your own home. Inflation in the eurozone decreased from 2.8 percent in January to 2.6 percent in February.