Life in the Netherlands became 8.8 percent more expensive last month compared to May last year. This means that so-called inflation will rise less sharply than in April, when prices rose by 9.6 percent. This is mainly because energy prices rose less sharply than in recent months, reports the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Thursday.
Since the sharp price increases, energy has had a major impact on inflation figures. Since the end of the corona crisis, gas and electricity have become much more expensive every month. The price increase is not over yet, but it is slowing down. In May, energy became 105 percent more expensive than a year earlier, in April it was still 136 percent.
Gasoline prices, on the other hand, went up more. Petrol was 23.8 percent more expensive last month, compared to 20.1 percent in April. A liter of petrol cost an average of 2.19 euros in May. On Wednesday, the petrol price broke a record and came to 2,505 euros per liter. On Thursday, refueling is slightly cheaper with 2,501 euros per liter.
Food also became more expensive, partly because Ukraine is an important supplier of raw materials. Those deliveries are now being delayed due to the war with Russia and that is driving up the price. Meat became 13.9 percent more expensive, all food items together rose 9.1 percent.
It remains to be seen whether the less sharp rise in energy prices will continue in the coming months. Since the beginning of this month, the Netherlands no longer receives gas from the Russian Gazprom. This will remain so until at least the end of September.
Importer GasTerra has purchased gas from other parties, but does not want to say anything about the price of that gas. If that is more expensive, it will probably also be reflected in the inflation figures in the coming months.