Inflation falls in July, remains above European average

The Dutch annual rate of inflation fell slightly to 2.9% in July, national statistics office CBS said in a preliminary estimate on Friday.

In June the annual rate was 3.1%. Month on month consumer prices are 1.3% higher but this is largely down to seasonal effects.

“Plane tickets are more expensive in holiday months, for example,” the CBS said. “These are temporary increases, not permanent.” Food also cost more in July, the agency said.

Calculated according to EU methods, which do not take rental housing into account, inflation fell from 2.8% to 2.5%, which remains above the eurozone average.