Inflation causing rents to skyrocket in Brussels

Inflation has caused rents in Belgium to rise by 4 percent as compared to the same time in 2007.
The great majority of tenancy agreements are linked to the so-called health index which compiles consumer goods with the exception of “unhealthy” items such as tobacco, alcohol and most oil products.
In the past months, the health index was exceeded on a number of occasions, causing the wages of civil servants and pensions to increase. Sadly for those who do not own their own house, it has led to an increase of rents as well.
According to Geert Inslegers of the Tenants Union, the increase is particularly striking in those cases where the letter has failed to carry out earlier adjustments.
“Tenants in that situation may now face a hefty rent increase,” Inslegers says.
On top of that, as the Tenants Union points out, some letters are cashing in twice by adjusting rents in between tenants.

Europe decline could be worse than expected, Brussels admits

Europe's social model is unable to tackle the modern challenges of globalization, and has left Europe with gigantic problems. A high public debt, huge unfunded pension liabilities, a rapidly ageing population, 19 million unemployed, and an overall youth unemployment rate of 18%.

Persistent financial turmoil, the fallout from a deepening US downturn and resurgent oil prices are set to inflict a more severe slowdown on the European economy than previously expected, Brussels said yesterday.

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Price of Food rising much faster in Belgium than elswhere

The price of food in Belgium is rising faster than in our neighbouring countries. This has been confirmed by a study commissioned by the ING bank. The researchers question the profit margins of the wholesale and retail sectors.
The prices in Belgium have risen three times faster over the last year than the average. The cost of processed food has increased by 8.5% last year. The European average was an increase of 5.5%.

Inflation in Belgium has reached the highest level in 16 years

Inflation in Belgium has reached the highest level in 16 years. The price of consumption goods this January were 3.46% higher than they were in January 2007. This is a monthly increase of 0.41%.
According to statistics by the Federal Department of Economy, inflation has not been this high since August 1991.

Inflation in Belgium has risen rapidly over the last months- to over double what it was last September (1.51%).The index is now at 108.84 points. Especially natural gas (+0.110) and electricity (+0.060) have gone up in price recently. Bread and grains (+0.060) and milk, cheese and eggs (+0.050) have also risen considerably in price. Noteworthy is the price increase in water supplies (+0.045) and fuel (+0.040).