The increase in excise duties on cigarettes and rolling tobacco on 1 April, caused the prices of goods and services in the Netherlands to be somewhat higher in the month of May than a year earlier. The smokers with the higher price were in stores for the first time last month.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), rolling tobacco in May was almost a quarter more expensive than a year earlier, for cigarettes it was just under 7 percent. Prices of gasoline and diesel depressed inflation, as did clothing.
Because of the corona crisis, some products and services were virtually unavailable, such as airline tickets and dining out, Statistics Netherlands has estimated the prices for this. “The article groups within which prices had to be estimated in connection with corona together account for about 12 percent of consumer spending,” reports Statistics Netherlands on Tuesday.
Inflation stood at 1.2 percent in May, which is the same as April when goods and services were also 1.2 percent more expensive than a year earlier.
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