Press release No.473 / 2009-12-09

Consumer prices in November 2009: +0.4% on November 2008

Positive inflation rate for the first time since June 2009

WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the consumer price index for Germany in November 2009 rose 0.4% on November 2008. Hence the inflation rate, measured by the change of the consumer price index, was positive for the first time since June 2009. Compared with October 2009, the consumer price index was slightly down by 0.1%. Hence the estimate for November 2009 was slightly corrected upwards.

In November 2009, the price trend for energy (household energy and motor fuels) had a slight downward effect on the inflation rate. Energy prices were down a total 2.5% compared with November 2008. Not considering the price trend for energy, the inflation rate would have been +0.7%. In a year-on-year comparison, marked price decreases were recorded for gas (−18.7%) and liquid fuel (−14.9%). Charges for central and remote heating were also down on a year earlier (−8.6%). An opposite price trend was again observed for electricity (+5.8%). Also, for the first time in 12 months (since November 2008), motor fuel prices were an average 5.6% higher than those of a year earlier (including supergrade petrol: +9.6%; Diesel fuel: −6.2%).

Food prices in November 2009 were 2.2% below previous year’s level. The largest price decreases were observed for vegetables (−8.9%; including peppers: −21.4%; lettuce or iceberg salad: −21.3%; potatoes: −19.2%) and dairy products (−5.4%; including curd: −9.2%; fresh full-cream milk: −8.7%; UHT milk: −8.4%). Prices were down on a year earlier also for fruit (−2.6%; including nuts and other baking ingredients: −11.1%; apples: −7.5%). Price rises on November 2008 were however recorded for fish (+3.0%; including frozen fish preparations: +9.3%; fish fingers: +8.3%). Also, following more than one year of falling prices, price increases were for the first time recorded again for oils and fats (+2.2%), in particular butter was more expensive than a year earlier (+12.3%).

Consumer durables again showed a rather moderate price trend (−0.3%). Particularly consumer-friendly price trends were observed here especially for some products of consumer electronics (for example, TV sets: −23.1%) and for information processing equipment (personal computers: −17.8%; notebooks: −11.7%) as well as for second-hand cars (−4.4%).
Year-on-year price increases worth mentioning were however recorded for tobacco products (+5.5%).

Change in November 2009 on October 2009
Altogether, consumer prices remained nearly unchanged on October 2009 (−0.1%).

What was striking in November 2009 compared with October 2009 is the price increases for energy (+0.6%) and food (+0.5%). Regarding energy, prices were up on the previous month for mineral oil products (+1.9%). Liquid fuel prices were 0.5% higher than a month earlier and motor fuel prices were up 2.3% in the same period (including supergrade petrol: +2.6%; Diesel fuel: +1.2%). In the food sector, marked month-on-month price increases were recorded especially for some dairy products (curd: +9.8%; cream: +8.0%; fresh full-cream milk: +5.2%) and butter (+11.3%). Prices of seasonal fruits and vegetables showed different trends (grapes: +23.8%; oranges: −14.7%; lettuce or iceberg salad: +47.1%; cucumbers: +13.5%; tomatoes: −5.9%; peppers: −8.6%).

Seasonal price decreases on the previous month were recorded for accommodation services (−3.2%), package holidays (−2.4%) and air travels (−2.0%).

The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose 0.3% in November 2009 on November 2008. Compared with October 2009, the index was down 0.2%. The HICP estimate of 26 November 2009 was thus slightly revised downwards.

Further information on consumer price statistics is provided by Fachserie 17, Reihe 7, which is available free of charge via the publication service of the Federal Statistical Office at www.destatis.de/publikationen, search word “Verbraucherpreisindex”. Detailed information and long time series on consumer price statistics can also be retrieved free of charge from the database Genesis Online.

>>> Brief methodological description

For further information please call our service telephone number,
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E-mail: verbraucherpreisindex@destatis.de

Consumer price index for Germany
Overall index / product groups ________ Overall index / subindex	Weighting	Index 2005 = 100	Change on the same period a year earlier	Change on the preceding month
	in per mill	Index 2005 = 100	in per cent
Overall index in November 2009	1,000.00	106.9	0.4	–0.1
Food and non-alcoholic-beverages	103.55	109.4	–2.0	0.4
Food	89.99	109.5	–2.2	0.5
Milk, cheese and eggs	14.44	111.0	–4.4	1.4
Oils and fats	2.55	121.5	2.2	5.0
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	38.99	112.9	3.5	0.1
tobacco	22.43	116.7	5.5	0.1
Clothing and footwear	48.88	103.8	0.1	–1.6
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels	308.00	108.7	–0.5	0.0
Net rent exclusive of heating expenses	203.30	105.0	1.0	0.1
Household energy	59.82	121.5	–6.4	–0.3
Electricity	24.61	126.8	5.8	0.0
Gas	12.85	118.6	–18.7	–0.3
Liquid fuel	9.21	106.5	–14.9	0.5
Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house	55.87	104.1	1.0	–0.5
Health	40.27	104.3	0.9	0.1
Transport	131.90	109.8	2.5	0.6
Motor fuels	35.37	109.0	5.6	2.3
Supergrade petrol	19.29	109.4	9.6	2.6
Diesel oil	8.15	106.3	–6.2	1.2
Communication	31.00	89.1	–1.9	–0.4
Recreation and culture	115.68	100.2	0.6	–0.7
Package holidays	25.93	103.8	–0.7	–2.4
Education	7.40	131.3	–1.2	0.2
Restaurants and hotels	43.99	107.0	1.6	–0.7
Miscellaneous goods and services	74.47	108.2	1.9	–0.2
Overall index
Excluding liquid fuel and motor fuels	955.42	106.8	0.4	–0.2
Excluding household energy	940.18	105.9	0.9	–0.2
Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels)	904.81	105.8	0.7	–0.2
Goods, total	493.00	107.6	–0.4	–0.1
Non-durable consumer goods	305.11	112.0	–0.6	0.3
Consumer goods with a medium-term life	95.24	103.5	0.4	–1.0
Durable consumer goods	92.65	97.4	–0.3	–0.4
Services	507.00	106.1	1.0	–0.3

Consumer price index for Germany
Overall index ________ Year / Month		Index 2005 = 100	Change on the same period a year earlier	Change on the preceding month
Overall index ________ Year / Month		Index 2005 = 100	in per cent
2007	annual average	103.9	2.3	–
2008	annual average	106.6	2.6	–
2008	November	106.5	1.4	–0.5
2008	December	106.8	1.1	0.3
2009	January	106.3	0.9	–0.5
	February	106.9	1.0	0.6
	March	106.8	0.5	–0.1
	April	106.8	0.7	0.0
	May	106.7	0.0	–0.1
	June	107.1	0.1	0.4
	July	107.1	–0.5	0.0
	August	107.3	0.0	0.2
	September	106.9	–0.3	–0.4
	October	107.0	0.0	0.1
	November	106.9	0.4	–0.1

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