Energy prices lift Belgium’s September inflation to 4.69%
Belgian consumer prices were 4.69% higher in September than a year earlier, up from 3.97% in August. Statbel identified energy as the main driver: higher diesel, natural gas and electricity prices lifted the overall rate. The index rose 0.39% from the previous month. The reading shows renewed pressure on household prices, though it does not mean every category became dearer at the same pace.
Economics & Markets··Night
Belgian annual inflation reaches 4.69%
Belgium’s statistical office, Statbel, measured a 4.69% annual rise in consumer prices in September. The rate had been 3.97% in August and 3.56% in July. The Brussels Times independently reported the September figure and its energy-led increase, describing the rate as the highest since May 2023. The consumer price index itself rose 0.39% from August to September. The annual rate compares prices with September last year, while the monthly change compares two adjacent months; they describe different intervals.[1], [2]
Energy supplies much of the rise
Statbel put the annual energy inflation rate at 24.37%, up from 16.47% in August, and calculated a 2.15-percentage-point contribution to the overall rate. Motor fuels cost 33.9% more than a year earlier; diesel was 44.1% dearer and petrol 29.4% dearer. Natural gas rose 34.9% on the year and electricity 13.1%. These are category price changes, not separate additions to the headline inflation rate. During September alone, motor fuels increased 6.5%, natural gas 6.9% and electricity 4.2%.[1]
Core prices barely move as services quicken
Core inflation, which removes energy and unprocessed food, was 3.00%, nearly unchanged from 2.99% in August. Services inflation nevertheless rose from 4.70% to 5.25%, while rent inflation eased from 3.11% to 2.94%. Food products including alcoholic drinks were 0.28% cheaper than a year earlier. Statbel’s separate health index rose 4.00% over twelve months, up from 3.44% in August. That index excludes alcohol, tobacco and most motor fuels and is relevant to wage and benefit indexation. Its different basket produces a different rate from the overall consumer-price index.[1]
