More purchasing power for most Dutch households, despite higher bills

Most Dutch households will have a bit more to spend this year than in 2018, despite higher energy bills, higher health insurance premiums and higher VAT, according to budget institute Nibud's latest purchasing power calculations. Most households will have between a few euros and 131 euros extra left over each month, NU.nl reports.

"Price increases are more noticeable, but this year income taxes are falling and gross wages, benefits and allowances are rising. This means that most households will have more money than last year", Nibud director Arjan Vliegenhart said. In contrast to previous years, almost all pensioners with a supplementary pension are also better off this year.

According to Nibud, only four of the 100 most common exemplary households are losing ground this year. They will have around 24 euros less per month. This involves, for example, couples with children of whom one partner earns less than minimum wage. They're losing due to a change in the income-related combination tax credit.

Households with a so-called pre-pension allowance are also going backward. In many cases their pension is not increasing and they do not benefit from the increase in state pension or the elderly credit.