Purchasing power rose 2.7% in 2016, but not for all: CBS

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Purchasing power in the Netherlands rose by 2.7% in 2016, the sharpest increase since 2007, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday.

There were sharp divisions among different population groups, the CBS noted. Those in jobs enjoyed a 4.9% increase in purchasing power, the highest in 15 years. Pensioners, however, saw the lowest increase and some people – particularly the self-employed – had less to spend.

The 2016 rise in spending power was partly due to a wide-ranging package of tax cuts combined with an average 1.8% increase in wages. The consumer price index was virtually flat at 0.3%.

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