More income and profit, but room remains unequal
New CBS figures show higher household incomes and business profits, while debts and differences between households remain visible.
Dutch households had 0.7 per cent more real disposable income in the second quarter of 2026 than a year earlier. At the same time, gross profit before tax for non-financial companies rose to €93.2 billion, according to two new CBS publications.
CBS adjusts household income for price rises and reports the development as a rolling annual average. The 0.7 per cent increase in the second quarter is therefore not a simple comparison of April, May and June alone. Compared with the first quarter, when growth was still 2.1 per cent, the pace is clearly lower.
The main contribution came from employees. Their total compensation was 5 per cent higher than in the second quarter of 2025. The number of employee jobs grew by 1.1 per cent and collectively agreed wages were 4.3 per cent higher. Social benefits also rose, by 7.4 per cent. Set against this were 6.2 per cent higher taxes and social contributions.
On the business side, gross profit before tax for non-financial companies increased by €5.1 billion to €93.2 billion. Operating profit came to €70.4 billion, €5.2 billion more than a year earlier. The profit share rose from 36.9 to 37.5 per cent of added value.
The figures do not mean that every company or household made progress. CBS stresses that the income figures do not provide a breakdown by individual types of household. Business profit is also a total for non-financial companies and says little about the position of individual sectors, self-employed people or small businesses.
Companies invested €2.7 billion more in the second quarter than a year earlier and paid out €0.6 billion more in dividends. At the same time, they paid €2.1 billion less in tax. This may fuel debate about the distribution of economic growth, but the figures offer no judgement on the reasons for the lower tax payments.
For households, the higher real income is accompanied by growing mortgage debt. This increased by €12 billion in a single quarter to €948 billion, according to CBS. Debt therefore amounted to 80 per cent of gross domestic product, compared with 79.6 per cent a year earlier. The economy appears resilient, but averages conceal differences.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Real disposable income rose by 0.7 per cent, according to CBS.
- Gross profit for non-financial companies rose by €5.1 billion.
- The increase was not evenly distributed across all households or companies.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that higher business profits do not automatically mean that employees and vulnerable households benefit proportionately. Wants growth to flow back more strongly through higher wages, public services and a greater contribution from profits and wealth.
Values Equality, security of livelihood, public services and the balance of power in the labour market.
Consequences Fears that averages conceal social differences and that dividends and profits are rising faster than employees’ security.
Centre
Arguments Emphasises that wage growth, employment and healthy business profits can reinforce one another. The institutional approach mainly seeks to track developments by income group and target policy at groups that are falling behind without unnecessarily restricting companies’ room to invest.
Values Stability, broad prosperity, predictable policy and social cohesion.
Consequences Fears that tax increases imposed too quickly will restrain investment and employment, but also that doing nothing will widen the differences.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that profits create room for investment, innovation and jobs, and that higher wages are sustainable only with sufficient productivity. Wants to be cautious about additional taxes and regulations for companies.
Values Entrepreneurship, property rights, competitiveness and economic growth.
Consequences Fears that higher taxes on profits or labour will make companies less competitive and ultimately harm wage growth and employment.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
All the figures mentioned can be found in the two CBS publications of 23 September 2026. The text makes clear that these are averages and provisional figures and draws no conclusions about individual households or companies.
- confirmed Real disposable household income was 0.7 per cent higher in the second quarter than a year earlier. — CBS publication on the second quarter of 2026. source
- confirmed Employee compensation grew by 5 per cent and the number of jobs by 1.1 per cent. — CBS gives both percentages in its breakdown of household income. source
- confirmed Gross profit before tax for non-financial companies amounted to €93.2 billion. — CBS publication on business profits in the second quarter. source
- confirmed The profit share rose from 36.9 to 37.5 per cent. — CBS reports this profit share for the second quarter. source
- confirmed Mortgage debt increased to €948 billion and amounted to 80 per cent of GDP. — CBS gives the quarterly increase of €12 billion and the debt ratio. source
- confirmed The CBS figures do not show how income developments affect each type of household. — CBS warns of this in its explanation of the income series. source
Editor's note
The figures are provisional CBS figures for the second quarter of 2026. Household income has been adjusted for inflation and is based on a rolling annual average; the figures do not show how the development affects each type of household.Sources
- Beschikbaar inkomen huishoudens 0,7 procent hoger in tweede kwartaal — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
- Meer winst niet-financiële bedrijven in tweede kwartaal van 2026 — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „cbs koopkracht”
- Trouw — „cbs koopkracht”
- RTL Nieuws — „cbs koopkracht”