Inflation in May 10.2 percent, slightly lower than April

Inflation fell slightly in May compared to April, reports the Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday based on provisional figures. Prices in April were still 11.2 percent higher than a year earlier, while products in May were 10.2 percent more expensive than last year. Compared to the measuring point in 2015, products have again become slightly cheaper on average.

The price increase of energy in particular is lower than last month, according to Statistics Netherlands. In April it was 83 percent, in May it was 67 percent. The differences are smaller in other product groups. For example, inflation in food, beverages and tobacco was 0.9 percentage point higher than last month.

The Dutch gas company Gasterra announced on Monday that it will no longer receive gas from Russia and will instead buy gas from other places. About 1,500 horticulturists immediately notice that gas prices have risen further, sector organization Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands said on Tuesday, according to ANP news agency.

The figure published on Tuesday is based on a European calculation, the HICP. At the beginning of June, CBS will also publish inflation figures according to the Dutch consumer price index (CPI). Because this includes rents, among other things, that inflation figure is usually lower than the figures reported by Statistics Netherlands on Tuesday. Inflation based on the CPI was 9.6 percent in April.

Also read: Private labels, thicker sweaters, unpaid bills: high inflation is already being felt

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