Press release No. 143 of 11 April 2019

Consumer price index, March 2019
+1.3% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.4% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)

Harmonised index of consumer prices, March 2019
+1.4% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.5% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)

WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were up 1.3% in March 2019 compared with March 2018. This was a decline in the inflation rate - as measured by the consumer price index - which had been 1.5% in February 2019. Compared with February 2019, the consumer price index rose by 0.4% in March 2019.

The prices of energy products in March 2019 were up 4.2% year on year, which had an upward effect on the overall inflation rate. In the preceding two months, the increases in energy prices had been much smaller (February 2019: +2.9%; January 2019: +2.3%). Especially the prices of heating oil (+13.5%) and district heating (+5.0%) were up between March 2018 and March 2019. The prices of motor fuels (+3.7%), electricity (+2.9%) and natural gas (+2.7%) were also considerably higher than a year earlier. Excluding energy prices, the rate of inflation would have been +1.1% in March 2019.

In March 2019, food prices were up 0.7% year on year. The increase in food prices thus slowed again; in February 2019, the relevant rate of price increase had been +1.4%. Vegetable prices in March 2019 increased substantially compared with the same month a year earlier (+8.0%, including potatoes: +35.6%). However, this increase in prices was almost offset by the strong decline in fruit prices (-7.1%, including apples: -20.9%). Year-on-year price increases were also recorded, for instance, for fish and fish products (+2.6%) and for bread and cereals (+2.3%), whereas prices were also down for dairy products and eggs (-1.8%).

Compared with the overall inflation rate, the prices of goods as a whole increased by an above-average 1.6% in March 2019 year on year, which was due to the rise in energy product prices (+4.2%). Above-average year-on-year price increases were also recorded for other goods such as tobacco products (+4.4%), printed matter and stationery and drawing materials (+3.3%, including newspapers and magazines: +4.8 %) and vehicles (+2.5%, including new cars: +3.0 %). Lower prices were recorded, above all, for consumer electronics (-5.9%) and telephones (-5.6%).

In March 2019, the prices of services (total) were up 1.2% year on year. A major factor contributing to the development of service prices was the increase in net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.4%), as households spend a large part of their consumption expenditure on this item. Above-average price increases were observed, for example, for services of social facilities (+4.6%), maintenance and repair of vehicles (+4.1%) and catering services in restaurants, cafes and the like (+2.4%). Lower prices were recorded especially for package holidays (-6.4%).

Change in March 2019 on February 2019
Compared with February 2019, the consumer price index rose by 0.4% in March 2019. Especially the prices of package holidays were markedly up in March 2019 on the previous month (+7.8%). In addition, price increases were recorded for footwear (+3.7%) and clothing (+3.0%) compared with February 2019. A reason here was the changeover to the spring and summer collection.

In March 2019, the prices of energy (total) increased by 0.6% month on month. A month-on-month increase in prices was especially recorded for motor fuels (+1.5%, including supergrade petrol: +1.6%, diesel fuel: +1.2%). The prices of heating oil increased, too (+0.5%).

However, the prices of food (total) declined by 0.6% in March 2019 month on month. This was mainly due to the declining prices of vegetables (-3.8%) and of edible oils and fats (-1.9%).

Consumer price index for Germany March 2019

Overall index / subindex	Weighting	Index 2015 = 100	Change on the same period a year earlier	Change on the preceding month
	in per mill		in per cent
1The results exclude the relevant charges. A = annual average
Overall index	1,000.00	104.2	1.3	0.4
Food and non-alcoholic-beverages	96.85	106.6	0.5	-0.6
Food	84.87	107.1	0.7	-0.6
Meat	18.60	105.2	1.1	0.0
Fruit	8.88	103.9	-7.1	-0.9
Vegetables	11.08	111.6	8.0	-3.8
Alcoholic beverages and tobacco	37.77	109.7	3.0	0.6
Clothing and footwear	45.34	102.8	-0.7	2.9
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels	324.70	104.4	2.1	0.1
Net rent exclusive of heating expenses	196.32	105.1	1.4	0.1
Household energy	68.82	101.9	4.6	0.3
Electricity	25.92	106.1	2.9	0.1
Gas1	13.53	95.0	2.7	0.2
Heating oil1	7.01	115.7	13.5	0.5
Furniture, lighting equipment, appliances and other household equipment	50.04	102.1	0.4	-0.1
Health	46.13	104.4	1.0	0.3
Transport	129.05	105.1	2.5	0.6
Motor fuels	35.01	101.2	3.7	1.5
Supergrade petrol	25.66	98.6	2.3	1.6
Diesel fuel	8.64	108.7	7.6	1.2
Communication	26.72	96.2	-0.5	-0.1
Recreation and culture	113.36	100.1	-0.9	1.5
Package holidays	26.62	88.2	-6.4	7.8
Education	9.02	104.6	0.0	0.2
Restaurant and accommodation services	46.77	108.2	2.3	0.3
Miscellaneous goods and services	74.25	105.0	1.5	-0.1
Overall index
Excluding food and energy	811.30	104.3	1.1	0.5
Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels)	896.17	104.6	1.1	0.4
Excluding heating oil and motor fuels	957.98	104.3	1.2	0.4
Goods	468.16	104.0	1.6	0.4
Non-durable consumer goods	297.54	104.9	2.2	0.1
Energy	103.83	101.6	4.2	0.6
Services	531.84	104.5	1.2	0.4

Harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany

The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose by 1.4% in March 2019 on March 2018. Compared with February 2019, the index was up 0.5% in March 2019.

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).