THE HAGUE, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Inflation in the Netherlands in March was 9.7 percent and the highest since 1976, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) said on Thursday.

       The inflation rate was 2.2 percentage points below the harmonized European figure published last week. In the Netherlands, inflation is measured as the increase in the consumer price index compared with the same period in the previous year.

       The significant increase in the inflation rate was mainly due to the increase in electricity, gas and district heating costs as well as food prices.

       In March, energy was 157 percent more expensive than in the same month of 2021. In February, the respective figure was 77 percent. In February, the inflation rate stood at 6.2 percent.