Gas prices on the markets are an important indicator of the current market and supply situation in Europe and Switzerland. Supply is combined here with demand (consumption) and ultimately results in a price for a specific gas product. There are different markets and exchanges for different gas products. Prices of the Dutch virtual trading point TTF (Title Transfer Facility) are shown here. The TTF trading point represents the measurement rate (benchmark) in the determination of European gas prices. The price on the spot market indicates the price for tomorrow's consumption. In the "futures" markets, the price of gas on the TTF is set today for delivery in the future.

The gas price also indicatively reflects the overall market's assessment of the supply situation. In the event of short-term shortages, prices on the spot markets will tend to rise. Such shortages can be caused, for example, by pipeline failures or unavailability or reduced imports of gas to Europe. Cold temperatures can also drive the price up. Rising prices on the "futures" markets indicate future shortages suspected by the market.

Gas prices, however, do not directly add up to the retail price that residential and commercial customers pay their local energy supplier. These end-user prices depend, among other things, on the procurement strategy (long-term purchases or short-term purchases on the market) of the local energy supply company, as well as on network costs and government levies.

The national consumer price index (CPI) measures the price development (inflation) of goods and services that are significant for private households (basket of goods) and shows by how much consumer goods have become more expensive compared to the previous month, the previous year or any other earlier point in time. The index is based on December 2020. The price development is measured on the basis of the basket of goods, which also includes the most important energy sources - i.e. also gas.