inflation

Global crop prices have surged to their highest level since 2023, driven by the Iran war, supply disruptions, and extreme weather, raising concerns over rising food costs worldwide.

ING expects the eurozone’s trade surplus to fall sharply this year because of the Middle East war and rising competition from China, with the bloc at risk of a sizeable trade deficit in 2026.

Owner‑occupied homes in the Netherlands were 5 percent more expensive in March than a year earlier, marking a further easing of price growth. Average prices now exceed €494,600, while sales volumes rose sharply compared to last year.

Geldmaat is testing the introduction of 100‑euro banknotes in 46 ATMs across major Dutch cities. The six‑month trial, launched with De Nederlandsche Bank, aims to assess demand for higher denominations amid rising inflation.

The Dutch economy is facing renewed pressure as the Iran conflict drives up global energy prices. Fresh projections from the Central Planning Bureau show that inflation will rise faster than previously expected, wiping out the modest purchasing‑power growth households were set to gain this year.

CLA wages in the Netherlands rose 4.5% in the first quarter of 2026, CBS reports. Wage growth is slowing, but real wages remain positive for the tenth quarter in a row, with private‑sector employees seeing the strongest increases.

Inflation in the Netherlands increased to 2.7 percent in March, driven largely by higher energy and fuel prices, CBS reported. The rise follows the outbreak of war in the Middle East, which has pushed up oil and gas costs. Economists and the ECB warn that prolonged conflict could keep inflation under pressure.

Mortgage rates in the Netherlands have increased due to the Iran conflict. First‑time buyers, as well as buyers in major cities and the new‑build market, are particularly likely to feel the impact, according to ING Research.