Bonaire’s prices have been on the rise.
In the third quarter of 2021, Bonaire’s consumer prices of goods and services were 4.3 percent more expensive than one year previously. In the second quarter, inflation stood at 0.3 percent. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on the basis of the consumer price index for the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba).
Housing costs and transportation drive Bonaire consumer prices higher.
The higher inflation on Bonaire is mainly due to rising costs of housing and transportation. Prices of electricity were 20 percent higher than in the same quarter in 2020. Petrol was over 19 percent more expensive than one year previously.
The childcare subsidy had a dampening effect on inflation. Childcare was 28 percent cheaper than one year previously. This is due to the childcare organizations receiving a subsidy from the Central Government so they can further lower the parental contribution.
The difference between this year verses last year could be due to the change in people’s spending. During most of last year, people were going out less and therefore spending less money on goods and service. Additionally, some businesses had to temporarily close or adjust their hours due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
(Source: OLB)
