Press release No. 361 of 13 October 2017
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were 1.8% higher in September 2017 compared with September 2016. In August 2017, the inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index was 1.8%, too. Compared with August 2017, the consumer price index increased by 0.1% in September 2017. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 28 September 2017.
In September 2017, the prices of energy products were up 2.7% year on year. The increase in energy prices was higher than the overall rise in prices and had a strong upward effect on the inflation rate. In September 2017, prices were up year on year especially for mineral oil products (+6.2%, of which heating oil: +12.9%; motor fuels: +4.5%) and electricity (+2.0%). Only gas prices declined on a year earlier (-2.5%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.7% in September 2017.
Food prices in September 2017 rose 3.6% year on year, their increase being even larger than that of energy prices. In September 2017, above all edible fats and oils (+34.2%) were more expensive than a year earlier. Due to the further price increase, consumers had to pay markedly more for butter (+70.4%) in particular. The prices of dairy products, too, increased considerably (+15.0%). Price increases were also recorded, among other things, for fish and fish products (+3.4%) and for meat and meat products (+2.6%). Only the prices of vegetables (total) were down year on year (-4.4%). Excluding energy and food prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.5% in September 2017.
Compared with the overall inflation rate, the prices of goods as a whole increased by an above-average 2.2% in September 2017 on a year earlier, which was mainly due to the rise in energy prices (+2.7%) and food prices (+3.6%). Significant year-on-year price increases were also recorded for other goods, especially for newspapers and periodicals (+5.2%) and tobacco products (+4.3%).
Compared with goods prices, the year-on-year increase in service prices as a whole (+1.6%) was less marked in September 2017. The development of service prices had a downward effect on the inflation rate. A major factor contributing to the increase in service prices was the development of net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.7% on September 2016), as households spent a large part of their consumption expenditure on this item. In addition, price increases were observed, for example, for maintenance and repair of vehicles (+3.5%) and catering services (+2.5%). However, consumers paid markedly less for services of social facilities (–7.3%). Furthermore, the prices of telecommunication services declined year on year (–0.7%).
Change in September 2017 on August 2017
Compared with August 2017, the consumer price index rose slightly by 0.1% in September 2017. Considerable month-on-month price increases were recorded for clothing (+6.2%) and footwear (+4.3%). A major reason here was the changeover to the autumn/winter collection. In September 2017, energy prices increased by 1.2% month on month, especially for mineral oil products (+2.7%, of which heating oil: +4.9%; motor fuels: +2.1%).
Food prices (total), too, increased in September 2017 (+0.6%) compared with the previous month. Above all, the prices of edible fats and oils (+5.4%, including butter: +8.9%) and of fruit (+2.2%) were up month on month. However, vegetables (–0.6%, including potatoes: –6,4%) were an example of declining food prices.
Due to the end of the summer holidays in September, considerable month-on-month price decreases were recorded for package holidays (–11.6%, including international holidays: –12.0%) and air tickets (–6.5%).
| Overall index / subindex | Weighting | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the same period a year earlier | Change on the preceding month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in per mill | in per cent | |||
| Overall index | 1,000.00 | 109.6 | 1.8 | 0.1 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 116.3 | 3.2 | 0.5 |
| Food | 90.52 | 116.6 | 3.6 | 0.6 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 116.6 | 2.6 | 0.6 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 130.9 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 101.9 | – 4.4 | – 0.6 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 119.7 | 2.3 | –0.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 111.7 | 1.9 | 5.5 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 109.8 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 110.1 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 109.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 128.1 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 103.5 | –2.5 | 0.2 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 85.9 | 12.9 | 4.9 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 104.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Health | 44.44 | 107.2 | 1.7 | –0.1 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 107.9 | 2.6 | 0.4 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 96.0 | 4.5 | 2.1 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 97.0 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 93.7 | 4.7 | 1.7 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 89.7 | –0.4 | 0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 107.9 | 1.9 | –2.9 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 109.1 | 3.0 | –11.6 |
| Education | 8.80 | 96.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 116.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 109.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding food and energy | 802.92 | 109.5 | 1.5 | –0.1 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 110.2 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 110.5 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 109.2 | 2.2 | 0.9 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 111.7 | 2.6 | 0.5 |
| Energy | 106.56 | 104.7 | 2.7 | 1.2 |
| Services | 520.23 | 110.1 | 1.6 | –0.5 |
| 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 | ||||
| 2015 A | 106.9 | 0.3 | − | |
| 2016 A | 107.4 | 0.5 | − | |
| 2016 | September | 107.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| October | 107.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | |
| November | 108.0 | 0.8 | 0.1 | |
| December | 108.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | |
| 2017 | January | 108.1 | 1.9 | –0.6 |
| February | 108.8 | 2.2 | 0.6 | |
| March | 109.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | |
| April | 109.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | |
| May | 108.8 | 1.5 | –0.2 | |
| June | 109.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 | |
| July | 109.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | |
| August | 109.5 | 1.8 | 0.1 | |
| September | 109.6 | 1.8 | 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 1.8% in September 2017 on September 2016. Compared with August 2017, the index remained unchanged in September 2017. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 28 September 2017.
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).