Consumer prices in March 2009: Presumably +0.5% on March 2008
WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the consumer price index for Germany is expected to rise 0.5% in March 2009 on March 2008 (February 2009: +1.0%), according to results available from six Länder. That will be the lowest inflation rate since July 1999 (+0.5%, too). Compared with the previous month, the rate of change will be –0.1%.
The low inflation rate is mainly due to the continuing downward price trend for liquid fuel and motor fuels. Prices of liquid fuel and motor fuels decreased again in March (on February) and, were by between 17.5% and 19.2% (motor fuels) and by between 30.0% and 38.6% (liquid fuel) under previous year’s level, depending on the Land.
The harmonised consumer price index for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, is expected to increase by 0.4% from March 2008 to March 2009 (February 2009: +1.0%). Compared with the previous month, the index will be down 0.2%. The final results for March 2009 will be released on 9 April.
