At the quick estimate of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), inflation was 5.2 percent in April. Consumer goods and services were 4.4 percent more expensive in March than a year earlier. Consumers have also had to dig deeper into their pockets for products such as potatoes, fruits and vegetables (agf) since the beginning of this year.

The consumer price index for potatoes (in the Netherlands) reached 148 points for March. This puts this price 12.6 percent higher than in 2022. A month earlier a plus of 13.3 percent was visible. With this, the potato price appears to be structurally 10 percent above last year’s level. The biggest difference was visible in April 2022. In that month, the price of potatoes was 21.2 percent higher than in the same month a year earlier.

The price differential for fresh vegetables has also been increasing since the beginning of this year. In January the price was 10.8 percent higher than a year earlier and in February it was 18.1 percent. The consumer price index for March is 140.3 points. This increased the price differential compared to last year to 21.1 percent. Also for vegetables, consumers have been paying more for at least 15 months than a year earlier.

The consumer price for fresh vegetables has risen relatively faster than other agf categories because many greenhouse growers were forced to reduce production or shut down completely during the winter period. This was done to cope with rising energy costs.

In addition to potatoes and vegetables, the price of fresh fruit also rose. The consumer price index came in at 129.3 points in March. That was 117.8 points a year earlier. With this, the price of fruit rose 9.7 percent in one year. Although the price difference in fruit is smaller than in the other two categories, consumers have been paying structurally 6.5 to 7 percent more for fresh fruit products since the beginning of last year.

The Central Bureau of Statistics will release the final estimate for inflation in April on Thursday, May 11. It will also be known then whether consumer prices for agf products have risen further.

Source: nieuweoogst.nl