Oct 31, 2023 at 6:44 AM Update: 29 minutes ago
Life is on average slightly less expensive this month than a year ago, meaning deflation is occurring for the first time since 2016. But this is entirely due to a significantly lower energy price. Groceries and services, among other things, are now more expensive than in October 2022.
On the basis of provisional figures statistics agency CBS arrives at an inflation rate of -0.4 percent. This means that life is slightly cheaper than a year earlier.
But that decrease is entirely due to energy and fuel, which are on average 40 percent cheaper than in October 2022. It must also be said that CBS now calculates the costs for electricity and gas in a different way than a year ago, which means that the decrease partly accounting.
Without the cheaper energy, we are actually 5.1 percent more expensive than a year ago. This is partly because the prices of food and drinks are now 8.7 percent higher than in October last year. Services, such as a holiday or a visit to the hairdresser or restaurant, are now 4.7 percent more expensive.
Compared to a month ago, we are slightly more expensive in October. Prices are on average 0.5 percent higher than in September.
Energy prices were sky high last year
In the autumn of 2022, gas and electricity prices rose very high. This was because Russia then cut off the supply of gas to Western Europe. At the same time, countries wanted to replenish their gas supplies for the winter months. This led to very high prices and many felt it in their wallets. Gas and electricity are now less expensive than then.
In addition, CBS has in the meantime switched to a different calculation method for energy prices. Last year, the statistics agency only looked at the prices of new energy contracts, while many households still have current contracts with lower rates.
These current energy contracts are not included in the old method, but are included in the new one. This is partly responsible for the aforementioned decrease, although a number of Dutch people actually pay less for gas and electricity than a year earlier.
Beeld: Getty Images
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2023-10-31 08:03:51
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