Statistics

-- Population :

on January 1 2008 Belgium counted 10.666.866 inhabitants, 5.442.557 (51%) of which were women. Flanders represented 6.161.600 residents (57,8%), Wallonia counted 3.456.775 (32,4%) inhabitants and 1.048.491 people lived in Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (9,8%).

In 2007 population rose by 82.332 persons, the highest rise since 1965. Three quarters of this sharp increase in population is due to net immigration. The rest is due to natural growth. See : http://www.tijd.be/nieuws/binnenland/Belgie_op_weg_naar_elf_miljoen_inwoners.7963163-438.art.
It is interesting to note that in that last quart, births of children to parents of foreign origin is also rising.

In my younger years as an economist, it was generally accepted that the Belgian population was to stagnate around 10 mio. Statistics !

-- Prices :

inflation in Belgium fell from 5,91 percent in July to 5,39 percent in August. Some economists have the temerity to claim that the inflation peak is behind us. I sincerely hope they are right, but, let's wait and see ...