CBS Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Taxi Fares: The Objective Basis for Rate Adjustments

Taxi fares are indexed annually based on the CBS Consumer Price Index (CPI). This means fare increases are not arbitrary but based on objective economic data. We explain how it works.

What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a monthly measure published by CBS showing the average price increase of goods and services that households purchase. The CPI is the official inflation measure of the Netherlands and is used as the basis for wage and tariff adjustments across many sectors.

How Is It Linked to Taxi Fares?

The maximum taxi fares in the Netherlands are indexed annually by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The CPI development is one of the key inputs in calculating the new rates.

This means that fare increases are not arbitrary — they are based on the actual rise in the cost of living and business operations. In 2026, this resulted in a maximum fare increase of +3.86%.

Why Is This Important for Taxi Operators?

Communication tool: Explain to clients that fare increases are based on CBS inflation data, not arbitrary decisions
Contract basis: Reference CPI in business client contracts as the basis for annual fare adjustments
Internal benchmarking: Compare your cost increases against general inflation to check whether your margins are eroding

CPI and Labour Costs

CPI is also an input for CLA negotiations. Trade unions use CPI as an argument for wage increases: if prices rise, employees want compensation to maintain purchasing power. The wage increases in the CLA 2025-2027 (5% and 3.5%) are partly driven by high inflation in recent years.

View Current CPI Figures

The most up-to-date CPI figures are published monthly by CBS at CBS.nl.