Dutch inflation rises to 4.1 percent in April, driven by food and service prices

Inflation in the Netherlands increased to 4.1 percent in April, up from 3.7 percent in March, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in its “snelle raming,” or flash estimate, published Thursday. The estimate is based on preliminary data and offers an early view ahead of the final consumer price index (CPI) figures, which will be released on May 13.

The 4.1 percent rise reflects year-on-year inflation, measured as the percentage change in the CPI compared to the same month a year earlier. Compared to March, consumer prices in April rose by 1.0 percent.

CBS cautioned that short-term monthly comparisons are often more volatile than year-on-year changes due to seasonal effects. For example, airline tickets are typically more expensive during holiday months than in off-season months, resulting in temporary price spikes that are not considered structural inflation.

The April flash estimate also provides price developments across major product groups. The year-on-year inflation rate for food, beverages, and tobacco was 7.2 percent, up from 7.1 percent in March. Service prices rose by 5.6 percent in April, compared to 4.7 percent the previous month.

Prices for industrial goods excluding energy and motor fuels increased by 1.6 percent, a slight rise from 1.5 percent in March. Energy prices, including motor fuels, decreased by 3.2 percent in April, following a 3.3 percent drop the month before.

The CBS also released a harmonized estimate based on the European Union’s standardized method, the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). The Dutch HICP inflation rate was 4.1 percent in April, compared to 3.4 percent in March.

The HICP allows inflation to be compared across EU member states using a uniform methodology. Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office, compiles inflation figures for the eurozone and the entire EU based on national HICP data. The European Central Bank uses HICP figures to guide monetary policy in the eurozone.

The main difference between the Dutch CPI and HICP is that the HICP does not account for the cost of home ownership, which the Dutch CPI includes through the development of housing rent prices. A CBS publication provides a detailed explanation of these methodological differences.

CBS announced that both the CPI and HICP will adopt a new reference year, shifting from 2015=100 to 2025=100, starting in 2026. Already published inflation figures will not be revised. The change will also include an updated classification system for goods and services to better reflect evolving consumption patterns. Additionally, from 2026 onward, the CPI will more closely align with the HICP methodology. The first inflation results under the new system will be published in early February 2026.