According to the latest statistics published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, inflation in Belgium remained stable at 8.31% in April as in March. This is the first time it has stopped rising since January 2021.
But for the consumer, the rise in prices seems continuous for a few weeks, even a few months. So, which products have increased the most in Belgium?
Over a month
Compared to March 2022, the price of meat increased by 2.9% on average in April. The prices of pain and cereals also increased by 2.9%, and vegetables show an increase of 3.1% on average.
Moreover, thepurchase of vehicles cost an average of 1.1% more in April, and themaintenance and repair of vehicles show +1%.
The hotel rooms have exploded by +10.6%.
On the energy side, inflation now stands at 54.11%, compared to 57.22% in March and 60.99% in February. Thus, let us point out that the fuels cost on average 3.1% less this month of April compared to March. the natural gas also experienced a price drop of 3.5% on average, due to the temporary reduction in VAT and the heating premium.
Finally, the clothes were down 1.5%, as were the combined services of telecommunicationsup to 1.4%.
Over a year
Moreover, taking a little height, in comparison with the month of April 2021, it is the price of natural gas that shows the strongest growth, with no less than 139.6% increase. This energy resource is followed by other fuels (+75.1%), heating oil (+57.8%), electricity (+49.7%), liquefied hydrocarbons (propane, +34.7 %) and diesel (+33.5%).
In addition, inflation of food products (including alcoholic beverages) rose to 5.09% in April against 0.47% last November. Edible oils other than olive oil come just behind energy products in the list of foodstuffs that have increased the most with an increase of 25.4% (compared to 13.1% in November).
For bread and cereals, inflation stood at 10.2% and 9.3% respectively in April, against 1.7% and 0.6% in November.
Finally, in a less vital register, it should be noted that prices in holiday villages have increased significantly compared to April of last year (+26.1%).