Press release No. 399 of 11 November 2016
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were 0.8% higher in October 2016 compared with October 2015. This means that the inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index continues to rise in the second half of the year (August 2016: +0.4%; September 2016: +0.7%). An inflation rate of +0.8% was last recorded in October 2014. Compared with September 2016, the consumer price index rose by 0.2% in October 2016. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 28 October 2016.
The development of energy prices (–1.4% on October 2015) had a downward effect on the overall rise in prices in October 2016, as had been the case in the preceding months. However, the year-on-year decline in energy prices has continuously slowed since July 2016 (July 2016: –7.0%; August 2016: –5.9%; September 2016: –3.6%). Compared with October 2015, especially household energy prices were down (–2.3%, including charges for central and district heating: –7.5%; gas: –3.9%; heating oil: –1.4%). The prices of motor fuels were up year on year (+0.4%, including supergrade petrol: +0.7%; diesel fuel: +0.2%). Excluding energy, the inflation rate (+1.1%) was slightly lower than in September 2016 (+1.2%).
Food prices remained unchanged on October 2015. In October 2016, prices were markedly up on a year earlier especially for edible fats and oils (+12.2%, including butter: +21.7%, and olive oil: +11.0%). Prices rose also for fish and fish products (+3.8%) and fruit (+2.6%). Consumers paid less especially for dairy products (–6.3%, including curd: –18.2%; cream: –15.5%; UHT milk: –15.1%) and vegetables (–3.6%).
Prices of food (total) rose 0.4% from October 2015 to October 2016. Prices were up on the previous year not only for some foods but also, for example, for pharmaceutical products (+2.3%), tobacco products (+3.1%) and newspapers and periodicals (+4.0%). Price decreases were observed for energy (–1.4%) and, among other things, consumer electronics (–3.4%).
Compared with the moderate price rise for goods, prices of services rose more markedly (+1.3%) on a year earlier. This development was mainly due to the increase in net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.4% on October 2015), as households spend roughly a fifth of their consumption expenditure on this item. Even more marked price rises on the previous year were recorded, among other things, for services of social facilities (+4.4%) and insurance services (+3.1%). The price development was consumer-friendly in the sphere of package holidays (–1.6%) and telecommunications services (–1.4%).
Change in October 2016 on September 2016
Compared with September 2016, consumer prices as a whole rose slightly by 0.2%. Energy prices were up 1.5% in October 2016, especially the prices of mineral oil products rose markedly (+4.2%, of which heating oil: +11.2%, motor fuels: +2.4%). Food prices remained nearly unchanged (+0.1%). Here, prices rose for edible fats and oils (+6.7%), while they fell for vegetables (–2.3%).
Month-on-month price increases were observed for clothing (+2.0%). A major reason here was still the changeover to the autumn/winter collection. Seasonal price decreases were recorded for package holidays (–3.4%).
| 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 | 107.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 112.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Food | 90.52 | 112.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 113.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 128.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 104.1 | –3.6 | –2.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 116.8 | 2.2 | – 0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 111.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 108.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 108.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 108.6 | –2.3 | 1.0 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 125.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 105.3 | –3.9 | –0.8 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 84.6 | –1.4 | 11.2 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 103.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 |
| Health | 44.44 | 105.5 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 105.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 94.1 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 94.9 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 92.7 | 0.2 | 3.6 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 90.1 | –0.8 | 0.0 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 105.3 | 0.5 | –0.6 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 102.3 | –1.6 | –3.4 |
| Education | 8.80 | 94.6 | 1.6 | –0.5 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 113.8 | 1.7 | –0.2 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 109.9 | 2.3 | 0.2 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 108.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
| Excluding household energy | 931.81 | 107.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 108.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 107.5 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 109.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Energy | 106.56 | 103.4 | –1.4 | 1.5 |
| Services | 520.23 | 108.3 | 1.3 | –0.1 |
| 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 | 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 | |
| August | 107.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |
| September | 107.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | |
| October | 107.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | |
Harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose by 0.7% in October 2016 on October 2015. The inflation rate thus reached the highest level so far this year. Compared with September 2016, the index rose by 0.2% in October 2016. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 28 October 2016.
More information on consumer price statistics is provided by Fachserie 17, Reihe 7.
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).