A sack of presents for the St Nicholas celebrations next month will cost 2.6% more than last year, according to the traditional ING Sinterklaas inflation index.

The price of presents for adults, such as books and perfumes, is up 3.3%. But the children’s inflation rate is 1.7%, just 0.1 percentage point above the real inflation rate in October.

Sweets and chocolate letters are the same price as in 2012 but toys are 3.4% more expensive, ING said.

Last year ING calculated Sinterklaas inflation at 0.5%, compared with an actual inflation rate of 2.9%.