About this Episode
Luxembourg has begun evacuating citizens from the Middle East. Foreign Affairs Minister Xavier Bettel confirmed that the first Luxair flight departed Muscat in Oman yesterday evening with more than 100 passengers on board. A second evacuation flight is scheduled to leave today. Authorities estimate that around 600 Luxembourg residents remain stranded across the region. The government says it is examining further options to return citizens safely as tensions in the Middle East continue.
Indexation still distant as inflation remains moderate
Luxembourg’s next automatic wage increase remains out of reach as inflation stays low, according to new figures from the national statistics institute STATEC.
Annual inflation in Luxembourg reached 1.3 percent in February, according to the national statistics institute STATEC. The six-month index average remains more than four points below the level required to trigger automatic wage indexation. Food prices continue to drive inflation, while energy costs are lower than a year earlier. Clothing prices rose after winter sales ended. As the index stays below the threshold, wages, pensions and benefits will not increase for now.
Diesel prices jump amid Middle East tensions
Fuel prices are rising sharply as tensions in the Middle East push crude oil markets upward.
Diesel prices are set to rise by more than 21 cents per litre following turmoil on global oil markets linked to the Middle East conflict. Petrol prices are also increasing, though less sharply, while heating oil shows a similar rise. Authorities say the increase reflects higher crude prices and growing risk premiums tied to shipping routes in the Gulf. No fuel shortages have been reported. Further price changes may depend on geopolitical developments in the coming days.
