Higher clothes & shoes prices push up March inflation rate

06 Apr '07

2 min read

In March 2007, Dutch inflation was 1.8 percent, an increase by 0.3 percentage points compared to February when prices were 1.5 percent up on one year previously. The inflation increase in March is predominantly caused by higher prices for clothes and footwear, as the consumer price index calculated by Statistics Netherlands shows.

Inflation according to the European harmonised method was 1.9 percent in March, as against 1.4 percent in the preceding month. New summer clothes collection more expensive The substantial inflation increase is chiefly attributable to higher prices for clothes and shoes.

Prices of these products rose on average by 3.5 percent in March relative to one year previously, whereas in February prices were 0.5 percent lower than one year ago. Price increases for clothes and footwear coincide with the introduction of the new summer clothes collection now available in the shops.

Inflation according to the European method also higher Dutch inflation according to the European harmonised method (HICP) was 1.9 percent in March. In February, HICP inflation was 1.4 percent.

A preliminary estimate conducted by Eurostat shows that the inflation rate in the eurozone was also 1.9 percent, marginally higher than in January and February. Dutch inflation rose rapidly over the past two months. In January, the Netherlands had the lowest inflation rate of the entire European Union. Two months later, the rate equalled the eurozone average.

Statistics Netherlands

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