Dutch consumer prices were 3.2% higher in July 2026 than a year earlier, up from 2.9% in June. Motor fuels cost 22.0% more. Energy prices moved from an annual fall to a 1.1% rise. These increases feed into travel, deliveries, production, and service visits.
Why this matters
The 3.2% figure is not your company’s cost increase. Your exposure depends on fuel use, energy bills, supplier invoices, payroll, and customer contracts. An accepted quote may use last month’s costs. The supplier invoice arrives at today’s price, and the customer may pay 30 days later. Your business carries that gap. Customers may question a higher price. Explain the change in the quote, contract, or work delivered.
Example
A field-service business has two vans. Fuel affects every customer visit. Its courier and wholesaler add transport costs to their invoices. Several jobs were sold at fixed prices. Those prices may no longer cover travel, labour, delivery, and non-billable time. Turnover can hold steady while gross margin falls. The owner needs margin figures by customer, job, or route. A monthly turnover total cannot identify the loss-making work.
XTROVERSO tips
- Check open quotes and fixed-price work. Compare current fuel, energy, delivery, and subcontractor invoices with the costs used in open quotes. Flag work already sold but not yet completed.
- Measure margin close to the job. Calculate gross margin by customer, project, or route. Include travel, delivery, labour, and non-billable time.
- Separate your repricing options. Group customers by new quote, contract renewal, agreed indexation, negotiated change, or no immediate adjustment. Check the contract and general terms first.
- Put cash dates next to cost dates. Compare expected customer payments with payroll, VAT, rent, and supplier due dates. A late payment can turn margin pressure into a cash shortage.
- Explain changes before invoicing. Show the customer what changed in the work, travel, delivery, or scope. Record the agreed change before sending the invoice.
Need a clearer view of margins, prices, and cash dates? We can help put your figures in order
The data, sourcing, and analysis behind this article were conducted by Paolo Maria Pavan. AI was not used to identify sources, build the factual basis, or produce the analytical judgment contained here. AI was used only as a drafting aid. The final English text was personally reviewed, edited, and approved by Paolo Maria Pavan before publication.
References
- Inflatie stijgt in juli naar 3,2 procent | CBS
- Vertrouwen consumenten minder negatief in juli | CBS
- Consumenten schatten inflatie flink hoger dan voor 2022 | CBS
- Detailhandel boekt bijna 3 procent meer omzet in juni | CBS
- Economie groeit met 0,4 procent in tweede kwartaal 2026 | CBS
- In juli 11 procent minder faillissementen dan een jaar eerder | CBS
- Cao-lonen, contractuele loonkosten en arbeidsduur | CBS
