Press release No. 447 of 13 December 2016
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were 0.8% higher in November 2016 than in November 2015. This means that the inflation remains at the two-year-high reached in the previous month. Compared with October 2016, the consumer price index rose by 0.1% in November 2016. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 29 November 2016.
The development of energy prices (–2.7% on November 2015) had a downward effect on the overall rise in prices in November 2016, as had been the case in the preceding months. The year–on-year decrease in energy prices thus accelerated (in October 2016 it had been –1.4% on October 2015). Compared with a year earlier, household energy prices were down in November 2016 (–2.9%, including charges for central and district heating: –6.9%; heating oil: –6.7%; gas: –4.1%), as were motor fuel prices (–2.2%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate in November 2016 would have been +1.2%.
Food prices rose 1.2% in November 2016 compared with November 2015. The price increase was much more marked than in October 2016 (0.0% on October 2015). In November 2016, prices were up on a year earlier especially for edible fats and oils (+13.3%, including butter: +26.0%, and margarine: +2.3%). Prices rose also, among other things, for confectionery (+1.4%, including chocolate slabs: +6.0%), dairy products and eggs (+1.5%, including hard cheese: +3.1% and eggs: +9.0%) and fish and fish products (+2.8%). In contrast, consumers paid slightly less, for example, for vegetables (–0.4%).
Prices of goods (total) rose 0.5% from November 2015 to November 2016. In addition to food prices (+1.2%), prices were up on a year earlier especially for motor vehicles (+1.7%), tobacco products (+3.0%) and newspapers and periodicals (+3.9%). Price decreases were observed for energy (–2.7%) and, among other things, consumer electronics (–4.4%).
Prices of services rose 1.1% from November 2015 to November 2016. This increase was mainly due to the development of net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.4% on November 2015), as households spend roughly a fifth of their consumption expenditure on this item. Larger year-on-year price increases were observed, among other things, for catering services in restaurants, cafes and the like (+1.9%), insurances (+2.7%) and services of social facilities (+4.1%). Consumer-friendly price developments were recorded for package holidays (–4.1%), air tickets (–2.0%) and telecommunications services (–1.3%).
Change in November 2016 on October 2016
Compared with October 2016, consumer prices as a whole rose slightly by 0.1% in November 2016. Especially food prices were up by 1.3%. Prices were considerably up for dairy products and eggs (+6.5%, including curd: +22.0%; cream: +20.1%; UHT milk: +19.7%). Other products for which consumers had to pay more than a month earlier are edible oils and fats (+2.1%, including butter: +3.5%) and vegetables (+2.4%).
The rise in food prices in November 2016 was offset by the decrease in energy prices (–1.2%). Prices were down here especially for heating oil (–5.1%) and motor fuels (–1.9%, including supergrade petrol: –2.1% and diesel fuel: –1.5%).
| Overall index / subindex | Weighting | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the previous year | Change on the previous month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in per mill | in per cent | |||
| a Due to the changeover to other destinations, the rate of change on the previous month in reference month November cannot be interpreted as a pure price movement. | ||||
| Overall index | 1,000.00 | 108.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 114.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Food | 90.52 | 114.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 113.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 128.4 | 0.7 | –0.3 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 106.6 | –0.4 | 2.4 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 116.9 | 2.1 | 0.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 111.2 | 1.6 | –0.3 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 108.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 108.6 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 107.8 | –2.9 | –0.7 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 125.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 105.1 | –4.1 | –0.2 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 80.3 | –6.7 | –5.1 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 103.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Health | 44.44 | 105.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 105.3 | 0.5 | –0.6 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 92.3 | –2.2 | –1.9 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 92.9 | –2.1 | –2.1 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 91.3 | –2.2 | –1.5 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 90.0 | –0.8 | –0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 105.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 102.3 | –4.1 | 0.0a |
| Education | 8.80 | 94.6 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 113.8 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 109.9 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 108.9 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
| Excluding household energy | 931.81 | 108.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 108.6 | 1.2 | 0.1 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 107.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 109.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Energy | 106.56 | 102.2 | –2.7 | –1.2 |
| Services | 520.23 | 108.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| 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 | 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 | |
| November | 108.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | |
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 November 2016 on the November 2015 figure. Compared with October 2016, the index remained unchanged in November 2016. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 29 November 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).