Harry Styles concerts pushed up Dutch inflation, DNB economists say
Two central bank economists say the May concert series, the singer's only European shows, affected Dutch inflation through ticket demand and spending on overnight stays.
The series of Harry Styles concerts in May this year affected Dutch inflation, according to Daniëlle Hooijenga and Ide Kearney, economists at De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch central bank. They make the case in the economics journal ESB.
The concerts were the artist's only ones on European soil, so many fans had to travel from abroad. That led to high demand for concert tickets and to more spending on overnight stays, the economists say.
Figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show annual consumer price inflation at 3.5% in May, up from 2.8% in April. In June it fell back to 2.9%.
Dutch inflation peaked at 3.5% in May 2026, the month of the concerts
% change on a year earlier · Oct 2025–Sep 2026
Dutch inflation peaked at 3.5% in May 2026, the month of the concerts (% change on a year earlier). From 3.1 in Oct 2025 to 3.4 in Sep 2026; highest 3.5 in May 2026, lowest 2.4 in Jan 2026. Source: CBS.
View data
| Item | % change on a year earlier |
|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 3.1 |
| Nov 2025 | 2.8 |
| Dec 2025 | 2.9 |
| Jan 2026 | 2.4 |
| Feb 2026 | 2.4 |
| Mar 2026 | 2.7 |
| Apr 2026 | 2.8 |
| May 2026 | 3.5 |
| Jun 2026 | 2.9 |
| Jul 2026 | 3.2 |
| Aug 2026 | 3.3 |
| Sep 2026 | 3.4 |
Follow the story: DNB
DNB (De Nederlandsche Bank)
The Dutch central bank. It is part of the European system of central banks and supervises banks, insurers and pension funds.
CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)
Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.