Low inflation, lower pension premiums to boost spending power for most Dutch

Most of the Dutch will have more disposable income this year, as low inflation and reduced pension premiums boost spending power, the government’s macro-economic think tank CPB said on Monday.

On average, spending power will rise 1.2% over the year but the increase will be higher – 1.6% – for people in work, the CPB said.

Pensioners will only benefit marginally because many company pension payouts are being reduced or frozen.

However, the prospects for 2016 are less rosy and, based on current economic forecasts, most people will not have more cash to spend than this year, the CPB said in its spring report.

Meanwhile, research by the national statistics office CBS shows that the national economy and financial situation were the biggest concern to voters in 2012, followed by personal income and prices, and then jobs.

The integration of migrants, which was given as the most important issue in 2006 was considered a problem by just 14% of the Dutch in 2012, the CBS figures show.