Dutch annual inflation rate at 3.7% as grocery prices jump 7% in a year

The inflation rate in the Netherlands fell slightly to 3.7 percent in March 2025, down from 3.8 percent in February, according to a preliminary estimate by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The data showed that rising costs in specific categories continued to drive inflation. Food, beverages, and tobacco prices rose by 7.1 percent in March, slightly down from the 7.5 percent increase recorded in February. The cost of services also climbed by 4.7 percent year-over-year, while industrial goods prices rose by 1.6 percent compared to March 2023.

CBS measures inflation each month by comparing the consumer price index (CPI) to the same month in the previous year. The CPI also provides insight into price developments compared to the previous month. According to the preliminary estimate, consumer prices in March increased by 0.4 percent compared to February 2025.

Conversely, the declining cost of energy, including motor fuels, helped keep overall inflation in check. Energy prices fell by 3.4 percent over the past year, offsetting some of the increases in other categories.

CBS noted that consumers paid 0.4 percent more for goods and services in March than in February, though seasonal factors may have influenced this increase. “For example, airline tickets are more expensive in holiday months than in months outside the holiday season. Prices are then temporarily more expensive, but this is not a structural price increase,” CBS explained.

CBS also released a preliminary estimate of inflation based on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which allows for comparisons across EU countries. According to this measure, Dutch inflation stood at 3.4 percent in March, down from 3.5 percent in February.

To ensure consistency across the European Union, member states calculate the HICP based on internationally agreed definitions and methods. Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency, uses these figures to determine inflation rates for the eurozone and the broader EU. The European Central Bank also relies on the HICP when setting monetary policy.

One key difference between the CPI and the HICP for the Netherlands is that the HICP does not account for homeownership costs, whereas the CPI includes these expenses based on rental price developments.