Rising inflation is mainly due to the price developments of fresh vegetables and petrol, said the CBS.

Although the average price of fresh vegetables fell in April 2006 than a month earlier, but in 2005 this decrease was much larger. Furthermore the price increase of petrol was greater in April 2006 than in April 2005.

Also the price rise in women's clothing helped raise the inflation rate. The lower costs of buying and selling stocks helped to keep the inflation rate down.

The Netherlands has one of the lowest inflation rates in the euro-zone. Only Finland and Austria had lower inflation rates in March. Enditem