Inflation in the Netherlands reached 4.1% in December, marking the highest rate in a year and a half, according to a preliminary estimate from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Price increases were driven by higher costs for tobacco, rent, and energy. Although some household goods and vegetables saw price drops, overall, consumers are facing rising costs. Labor wages had increased an average of over 6% last year to offset inflation, and projections suggest further wage growth of nearly 5% in 2025.