Press release No. 280 of 12 August 2016
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were 0.4% higher in July 2016 compared with July 2015. The inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index increased slightly for the third consecutive month. This year, a somewhat higher rate than in July 2016 was measured in January (+0.5%). Compared with the previous month, the consumer price index rose by 0.3% in July 2016. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 28 July 2016.
The development of energy prices (–7.0%) had a marked downward effect on the overall rise in prices in July 2016, as had been the case in the preceding months. Compared with the last few months, the decrease of energy prices accelerated slightly year on year, in June 2016 it had stood at –6.4%. Consumers benefitted especially from the prices of mineral oil products, which were down in July 2016 on a year earlier (–12.8%, of which heating oil: –18.0%, and motor fuels: –11.5%). The prices of other energy products were also below the level of a year earlier (for example, charges for central and district heating: –8.9%; gas: –2.9%). Only electricity prices were up on a year earlier (+0.7%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate in July 2016 would have been +1.3%.
Food prices (total) were by 1.1% higher than in July 2015. The rate of change (from the same month a year earlier) thus rose considerably, in June 2016 it had been +0.1%. In July 2016 prices were up on a year earlier especially for vegetables (+8.6%, including potatoes: +18.3%) and fruit (+6.2%). Marked price rises were also recorded for fish and fish products (+3.6%). In contrast, consumers paid less especially for dairy products (–6.8%).
The prices of goods (total) fell by 0.7% in July 2016 compared with July 2015, the main reason being the decrease in energy prices (–7.0%). Prices were also down for coffee, tea and cocoa (–3.9%, including unground coffee: –5.3%). Considerable year-on-year price increases were observed for some foods and, among other things, for tobacco products (+3.5%), newspapers and periodicals (+3.8%), and jewellery, clocks and watches (+5.8%).
Contrary to the decrease in goods prices, the prices of services (total) were up 1.4% in July 2016 on July 2015. Again, this price development was mainly due to the rise in net rents exclusive of heating expenses, which has remained constant at +1.1% since May 2016. Larger year-on-year increases of service prices were observed, among other things, for services of social facilities (+4.2%), insurance services (+3.0%), and transport services (+1.9%). The price development of telecommunications services (–1.6%), however, was consumer-friendly.
Change in July 2016 on June 2016
Compared with June 2016, the consumer price index rose by 0.3% in July 2016. In the holiday month of July, prices were up especially for package holidays (+16.1%, including those to foreign destinations: +16.8%) and air tickets (+6.2%). The prices of food (total) also increased slightly (+0.3%). Higher prices were above all observed for vegetables (+1.5%, including potatoes: +2.8%) and edible fats and oils (+4.7%). The latter was mainly due to the notable increase of the butter price (+11.1%).
In contrast, energy prices fell 1.2% in July 2016 compared with the previous month. Price decreases were recorded for both motor fuels (–1.9%) and household energy (–0.7%, including heating oil: –3.7%). A favourable price development for consumers was observed also for clothing (–3.6%) and for footwear and accessories (–4.0%). This development was mainly due to seasonal price reductions for some summer articles.
| Overall index / subindex | Weighting | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the previous year | Change on the previous month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in per mill | in per cent | |||
| Overall index | 1,000.00 | 107.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 113.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| Food | 90.52 | 113.0 | 1.1 | 0.3 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 113.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 128.8 | 6.2 | –0.2 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 111.5 | 8.6 | 1.5 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 116.4 | 2.0 | 0.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 101.9 | 0.5 | –3.4 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 107.9 | –0.2 | 0.0 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 107.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 107.8 | –4.7 | –0.7 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 125.6 | 0.7 | –0.2 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 106.6 | –2.9 | –0.4 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 76.3 | –18.0 | –3.7 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 103.5 | 0.4 | –0.3 |
| Health | 44.44 | 105.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 105.3 | –2.0 | –0.2 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 92.0 | –11.5 | –1.9 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 93.0 | –12.3 | –2.1 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 89.9 | –8.5 | –1.2 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 90.2 | –1.0 | 0.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 109.2 | 1.7 | 3.9 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 119.8 | 1.3 | 16.1 |
| Education | 8.80 | 94.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 113.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 109.2 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 108.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Excluding household energy | 931.81 | 107.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 108.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 106.2 | –0.7 | –0.5 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 109.0 | –1.6 | –0.3 |
| Energy | 106.56 | 102.1 | –7.0 | –1.2 |
| Services | 520.23 | 108.9 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| Overall index ________ Year / Month | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the previous year | Change on the previous month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in % | ||||
| A = annual average –= no figures or magnitude zero | ||||
| 2014 A | 106.6 | 0.9 | − | |
| 2015 A | 106.9 | 0.3 | − | |
2015 | July | 107.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| August | 107.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |
| September | 107.0 | 0.0 | –0.2 | |
| October | 107.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |
| November | 107.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | |
| December | 107.0 | 0.3 | –0.1 | |
| 2016 | January | 106.1 | 0.5 | –0.8 |
| February | 106.5 | 0.0 | 0.4 | |
| March | 107.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | |
| April | 106.9 | –0.1 | –0.4 | |
| May | 107.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | |
| June | 107.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | |
| July | 107.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | |
Harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose by 0.4% in July 2016 on July 2015. Compared with June 2016, the index rose by 0.4% in July 2016. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 28 July 2016.
Detailed data and long time series of consumer price statistics can also be found in the Genesis Online database in tables 61111-0004 and 61111-0006 (consumer price index) as well as in tables 61121-0002 and 61121-0004 (harmonised consumer price index).