Dutch inflation rise ends downward trend

Dutch inflation rose to 1.7 percent in December 2013, reversing a declining trend in the past five months, the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said Thursday. The inflation rate had dropped from 3.1 percent in July to 1.5 percent in November last year. The December increase was driven by gasoline and clothing prices, according to the CBS. Gasoline became more expensive and clothing discounting was less than in previous years in December. The average inflation rate for the year of 2.5 percent was the same as in 2012. The highest Dutch inflation rate in the past 10 years was in July and August 2008, both at 3.2 percent.