The annual inflation rate in the Netherlands was confirmed at 2.7% in March 2026, up from an over two-year low of 2.4% in the previous two months. The latest figure also marked the fastest increase since December 2025, driven mainly by a sharp rise in motor fuel prices (petrol, diesel, and LPG), which surged 18.7% from 2.6% in February. Additionally, costs increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.1%) and transport (0.6% vs 0.4%), while it remained steady for housing and utilities (at 0.9%), miscellaneous goods and services (at 0.2%), insurance and financial services (at 0.2%), and recreation, sports and culture (at 0.2%). On the other hand, inflation slightly softened for restaurants and accommodation services (0.3% vs 0.4%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.7%, easing from a 1.0% increase in February. Meanwhile, HICP inflation, which excludes owner-occupied housing, went up by 2.6% year-on-year in March, accelerating from a 2.3% gain in the prior month.
