WIESBADEN – The inflation rate in August 2009 was 0.0 percent – the consumer price index for Germany did not change on the same month a year earlier. Nevertheless, prices of many goods and services in August 2009 were markedly higher or lower than a year earlier. The “zero” results from the fact that price increases and price decreases offset each other because the inflation rate is calculated as a weighted average of all changes in consumer prices.
The new price-kaleidoscope of the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) gives a quick overview of the price trends and weights of various product groups in the consumer price index. The colour of any section in the kaleidoscope indicates how much the prices of the relevant product group have changed. The size of a section indicates the weight with which the price trend of the product group is included in the consumer price index.
There were particularly large price increases, for example, for hired cars, honey or fish fingers. Considerable price decreases, however, were recorded for liquid fuel, TV sets or UHT milk. A list of particularly striking price trends is also available on the website of the Federal Statistical Office. For a screen shot of the price kaleidoscope click here.
For further information please call: Timm Behrmann, tel: (+49-611) 75-2428,
