The Dutch rate of inflation was virtually unchanged at 3.7% in March, national statistics agency CBS said in a flash estimate. In February, inflation stood at 3.8%.

Month on month, prices were 0.4% higher, the CBS said. The increase was mainly due to higher food and drink prices, while fuel prices were down.

Calculated using EU methodology, inflation was 3.4% last month, compared with 3.5% in February, and well above the eurozone average of 2.2%. The EU figures do not take into account the impact of rental housing.