Inflation in the Netherlands dropped in March to its lowest since October 2021, as energy prices cooled considerably, Dutch statistics agency CBS said on Friday.

Consumer prices in the euro zone's fifth largest economy were 4.4% higher this month on average than a year ago, down from inflation of 8% in February.

Energy was 28% less expensive than in March 2022, while food food prices rose 15%, a first estimate by CBS showed. (Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)