Press release No. 436 of 13 November 2018
Consumer price index, October 2018
+2.5% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.2% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
Harmonised index of consumer prices, October 2018
+2.4% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.1% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
WIESBADEN - Consumer prices in Germany were 2.5% higher in October 2018 than in October 2017. The inflation rate – measured by the consumer price index – thus increased again. A higher inflation rate was last recorded just over ten years ago (September 2008: +2.8%). Compared with September 2018, the consumer price index rose by 0.2% in October 2018. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 30 October 2018.
As in the preceding months, the increase of energy product prices had a considerable effect on the inflation rate. Energy prices rose 8.9% in October 2018 on October 2017. The increase in energy prices thus accelerated again; in September 2018, the relevant rate of price increase had been +7.7%. From October 2017 to October 2018, price rises were recorded especially for heating oil (+39.9%) and motor fuels (+14.8%). The price changes for the other energy products were much smaller (for example, charges for central and district heating: +2.9%; electricity: +1.0%; gas: -1.4%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.7% in October 2018; excluding the prices of mineral oil products, it would also have been +1.7%.
Food prices rose 1.9% from October 2017 to October 2018. The price increase thus slowed markedly in October 2018 (September 2018: +2.8%). One of the reasons for that slowdown is the relatively high level of food prices a year ago. In October 2018, the prices of edible fats and oils (-2.6%) and of fruit (-2.4%) were down on a year earlier, whereas vegetable prices rose considerably (+9.3%). Consumers paid more also for dairy products and eggs (+3.1%) and fish and fish products (+2.7%).
The prices of goods (total) rose by 3.2% in October 2018 compared with the same month a year earlier, the main reason being the increase in energy prices (+8.9%). Significant year-on-year price increases were also recorded for other goods such as beer (+4.9%), newspapers and periodicals (+4.2%) and mineral waters, soft drinks and juices (+3.8%). Consumers benefited of lower prices of consumer electronics (-4.7%) and telephones (-3.3%), among other things.
The year-on-year increase in service prices as a whole (+1.8%) was notably smaller in October 2018 than the increase in goods prices. 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 (+1.6%), as households spend a large part of their consumption expenditure on this item. Larger price increases were observed, for example, for package holidays (+7.1%), recreation and sporting services (+3.2%) and the maintenance and repair of vehicles (+2.8%). In contrast, prices were down for pre-primary and primary education services (-11.9%), which was due especially to the fact that in some Länder parents did no longer have to bear childcare costs. There were price decreases on October 2017 also for air tickets (-2.3%) and telecommunications services (-0.7%).
Change in October 2018 on September 2018
Compared with September 2018, the consumer price index increased by 0.2% in October 2018. Month-on-month price increases were recorded, for instance, for footwear (+1.8%) and for clothing (+1.2%). In October 2018, prices of energy (total) increased by 1.0% on September 2018, especially of mineral oil products (+1.8%, of which heating oil: +5.4%; motor fuels: +0.7%).
Food prices (total) fell slightly by 0.2% in October 2018 compared with the previous month. Prices decreased on a month earlier especially for fruit (-2.6%, including apples: -14.5%; citrus fruit: -6.3%) and for edible fats and oils (-1.1%, including butter: -2.1%). Seasonal month-on-month price decreases were recorded also for package holidays (-3.6%).
| Overall index ________ Year / Month | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the same period a year earlier | Change on the previous month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in per cent | ||||
| A = annual average –= no figures or magnitude zero | ||||
| 2016 A | 107.4 | 0.5 | − | |
| 2017 A | 109.3 | 1.8 | − | |
| 2017 | October | 109.6 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| November | 109.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | |
| December | 110.6 | 1.7 | 0.6 | |
| 2018 | January | 109.8 | 1.6 | -0.7 |
| February | 110.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | |
| March | 110.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | |
| April | 110.7 | 1.6 | 0.0 | |
| May | 111.2 | 2.2 | 0.5 | |
| June | 111.3 | 2.1 | 0.1 | |
| July | 111.6 | 2.0 | 0.3 | |
| August | 111.7 | 2.0 | 0.1 | |
| September | 112.1 | 2.3 | 0.4 | |
| October | 112.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 | |
| 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 | 112.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 119.3 | 1.9 | -0.2 |
| Food | 90.52 | 119.7 | 1.9 | -0.2 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 117.3 | 0.4 | -0.1 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 130.9 | -2.4 | -2.6 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 114.7 | 9.3 | 0.3 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 124.2 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 113.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 112.8 | 2.5 | 0.4 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 112.0 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 116.5 | 6.0 | 1.1 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 129.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 102.1 | -1.4 | 0.2 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 122.8 | 39.9 | 5.4 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 105.5 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
| Health | 44.44 | 108.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 113.1 | 5.0 | 0.2 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 109.3 | 14.8 | 0.7 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 108.5 | 13.7 | 0.1 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 112.9 | 18.6 | 2.5 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 89.0 | -0.7 | 0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 109.2 | 2.6 | -0.7 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 108.5 | 7.1 | -3.6 |
| Education | 8.80 | 93.1 | -3.2 | -0.2 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 118.9 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 110.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding food and energy | 802.92 | 111.2 | 1.7 | 0.1 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 112.1 | 1.7 | 0.1 |
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 112.3 | 1.7 | 0.1 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 113.0 | 3.2 | 0.4 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 116.9 | 4.3 | 0.3 |
| Energy | 106.56 | 113.9 | 8.9 | 1.0 |
| Services | 520.23 | 111.6 | 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 2.4% in October 2018 on October 2017. Compared with September 2018, the HICP increased by 0.1% in October 2018. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 30 October 2018.
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).
