Netherlands Inflation Hits Over a Year High

The annual inflation rate in the Netherlands rose to 3.5% in May 2026, picking up from 2.8% in April, according to preliminary estimates. This marked the highest reading since March 2025, as price growth accelerated across most major categories, with energy including motor fuels rising 9.9%, compared with 7.9% in April, driven by higher fuel and utility costs. Services inflation also picked up to 4.7% from 3.6%, while industrial goods excluding energy and motor fuels edged up to 0.7% from 0.3%. In contrast, food, beverages and tobacco inflation slowed to 0.4% from 1.5%. Meanwhile, consumption abroad rose 5.6%, following a 3.4% increase in the previous period. On a monthly basis, consumer prices grew 0.1%, easing from a 1.1% jump in April. The quick estimate of HICP-based inflation, which excludes owner-occupied housing costs, stood at 3.4% in May, accelerating from 2.5% in April.

The annual inflation rate in the Netherlands edged higher to 2.8% in April 2026 from 2.7% in March, confirming preliminary estimates and marking the highest reading since late December. The uptick was mainly driven by stronger price increases in transport (6.2% vs 5.9%), amid surging fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions. Inflation also rose for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (2.2% vs 2.1%) and insurance and financial services (5.4% vs 5.0%). On the other hand, inflation slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.4% vs 2.0%), clothing and footwear (0.1% vs 1.3%), housing and utilities (3.3% vs 3.5%), and recreation and culture (1.6% vs 1.8%). Prices for household equipment and maintenance remained in deflation (-0.6% vs -0.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices jumped 1.1%, the most since July last year, picking up from a 0.7% increase in March. Meanwhile, annual HICP inflation, which excludes owner-occupied housing, edged down to 2.5% from 2.6% in the previous period.

The annual inflation rate in the Netherlands rose to 2.8% in April 2026, a four-month high, up from 2.7% in March, preliminary estimates showed. Price growth accelerated in energy, including motor fuels, which rose 7.8% in April, up from 6.5% in March amid surging global energy costs. Meanwhile, inflation slowed for food, beverages and tobacco (1.5% vs 2.0%), industrial goods excluding energy and motor fuels (0.3% vs 0.4%), and services (3.6% vs 3.8%). The index for consumption abroad jumped 3.4%, following a 0.5% fall in the previous period. On a monthly basis, consumer prices are expected to have climbed 1.1%, the strongest increase since July last year, picking up from a 0.7% gain in March. HICP-based annual inflation, which excludes owner-occupied housing costs, came in at 2.5% in April, slightly down from 2.6% in March.