Goods and services have gone up 45% in price over 20 years

Dutch consumers are paying an average 45% more for goods and services than they did 20 years ago, the national statistics office CBS said in a new report on Wednesday.

The report shows the cost of services, such as restaurants, train tickets and housing has gone up 60%, twice as fast as that of goods, like cars and food.

Some categories stand out for their above average increases. For example, visits to restaurants and amusement parks have gone up 72% in price on 20 years ago. And housing rents are up by an average of 75%.

Energy bills have risen by 130%, due mainly to the increase in the price of gas, while the cost of rolling tobacco has tripled.

Nevertheless, pay has risen by an average 72.3% over the past 20 years, meaning most people are actually better off. ‘But if you smoke or live in a badly insulated rental house, you are likely to be worse off,’ CBS economist Pieter Hein van Mullligen said.