Statistics Netherlands reports that inflation in February 2026 was 2.4 percent, the same as in January. This article discusses price developments and factors influencing inflation.
Airline tickets had an upward effect on inflation development, food products a downward effect.
Inflation was higher in the Netherlands than in the eurozone.
In February 2026, consumer goods and services were 2.4 percent more expensive than a year earlier, reports Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In January 2026, inflation was also 2.4 percent. The inflation figure for February is the same as in the quick estimate published on March 3.
Inflation is measured monthly as the development of the consumer price index (CPI) compared to the same month in the previous year. The CPI also provides insight into price developments compared to the previous month. Consumer goods and services were 1.0 percent more expensive in February than in January.
International flights more expensive
In February, the price development of international flights had an upward effect on inflation development. International flights were 0.2 percent more expensive in February than in the same month a year earlier. In January, prices were still 9.7 percent lower than last year. The price development of clothing and shoes also had an upward effect on inflation development.
Mar 2024 - Feb 2025
2025=100
Downward effect food and non-alcoholic beverages
The price development of food and non-alcoholic beverages had a downward effect on inflation development. These were 1.2 percent more expensive in February than a year earlier; in January, this was 2.0 percent.
January 2026
%-point
Short-term price developments
Compared to January, consumer prices rose by 1.0 percent in February. In the past ten years, the monthly change in February averaged 0.8 percent. A caveat when comparing two different months in the year is that seasonal influences must be taken into account. For example, clothing is cheaper during sales. Prices are then temporarily lower, but this is not a structural price decrease.
Eurozone inflation rises
CBS publishes two different inflation figures. One based on the consumer price index (CPI) and one based on the European harmonized consumer price index (HICP). Consumer goods and services in the Netherlands were 2.3 percent more expensive according to the HICP in February than in the same month last year. In January, inflation according to the HICP was 2.2 percent. Inflation in the eurozone rose from 1.7 percent in January to 1.9 percent in February.
Eurozone
% change of the HICP compared to a year earlier
Inflation in the eurozone was lower in February 2026 than in the Netherlands. Energy prices were lower in the eurozone in February 2026 than in February last year, while they remained the same in the Netherlands. In addition, the price increase for services in February in the Netherlands was greater than the average in the eurozone.
Eurozone
%
Difference CPI and HICP
To compare inflation between countries, EU member states calculate a consumer price index according to internationally agreed definitions and methods. The European Central Bank uses the HICP for monetary policy in the eurozone. In addition, most countries still have their own national price index.
The main difference between the CPI and the HICP for the Netherlands is that the HICP, unlike the CPI, does not take into account the costs of living in owner-occupied housing. In the CPI, these costs are calculated based on the development of housing rents. However, this is not the only difference. These differences are further explained in the long research description.
New CPI base year from 2026
From 2026, the CPI and the HICP have switched to a new base year, from 2015=100 to 2025=100. More background information about the transition is available in the methodology document: The consumer price index from 2026.
More information
The long research description explains what the CPI measures and how the index is calculated. The consumer prices dashboard provides more insight into the CPI, the HICP and inflation with graphs. With the personal inflation calculator, you can calculate the development of consumer prices for an individual consumption profile. For the consumer price index of Caribbean Netherlands see: Caribbean Netherlands; consumer price index (CPI) 2017=100.
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