Price monitor of the Federal Statistical Office

Aggregated trend for all goods and services

Overall index

Price difference in percent compared to 2005

The graph displays the developing of overall consumer price index

The consumer price index combines the price trends for all goods and services purchased by households. It is calculated as a “weighted mean” of the individual price trends – there are just under 650 other goods and services of private consumption in addition to those shown in the price monitor.

The weighting pattern of the consumer price index shows the “weights” allocated to the various goods and services. The weight is based on the expenditure share of the relevant type of good or service in the overall consumption expenditure made by households.

The expenditures are calculated by the Federal Statistical Office on the basis of, among other things, the results of household budget surveys. Those sample surveys are based on a representative selection of voluntary respondents who over a specific period record in detail on what they spend their money. The chart shows the average expenditure shares for some aggregated categories of goods.

This chart shows the average expenditure shares for some aggregated categories of goods.

The detailed weighting pattern is available for download. Regarding the question of what impact the weights have on the index results, the Federal Statistical Office has developed an interactive internet tool: the personal inflation calculator.

The data of official price statistics are based on price monitoring performed every month by price collectors at 30,000 shops and service companies in 188 municipalities in Germany. Quantitative and qualitative changes are taken into account in price measurement. If, for example, a supplier reduces a product’s package size with the price remaining unchanged, this will be recorded as a price increase in price statistics.

For further information on how the system of price statistics works and on the general price development in Germany please refer to the brochure "Prices in Germany", which is available free of charge from our publication service.
The complete results of consumer price statistics are also available as tables. Aggregated table results on consumer price trends are available for free download from our Publication service (only available in German). For information on consumer price statistics please contact our service telephone number: +49 (0) 611 / 75 4777.

For information on the price monitor please contact Timm Behrmann at +49 (0) 611 / 75 2428.

For e-mail enquiries please use our contact form.

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