Press release No. 222 of 13 June 2019
Consumer price index, May 2019:
+1.4% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.2% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
Harmonised index of consumer prices, May 2019:
+1.3% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.3% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were up 1.4% in May 2019 compared with May 2018. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the inflation rate - as measured by the consumer price index - decreased. In April 2019, it had been +2.0%. Compared with April 2019, the consumer price index was up 0.2% in May 2019.
Especially the decrease in package holiday prices (-9.0%) had a downward effect on the inflation rate in May 2019. Also, the price increases for air tickets (+1.4%; April 2019: +6.1%) and rail tickets (+1.0%; April 2019: +3.4%) slowed markedly. These price decreases were mainly due to a calendar effect caused by Whitsun falling late this year compared with a year earlier.
Energy product prices in May 2019 were up 4.2% on May 2018 and had an upward effect on the overall inflation rate, as had been the case in the previous month. Motor fuel prices were up 4.6% on a year earlier, heating oil prices rose 3.7%. The prices of district heating (+5.5%), natural gas (+3.4%) and electricity (+3,2%) were also markedly higher than a year earlier. Excluding energy prices, the rate of inflation would have been +1.2% in May 2019.
Food prices rose below average (+0.9%) from May 2018 to May 2019. Prices in May 2019 increased substantially on the same month a year earlier especially for vegetables (+8.7%, including potatoes: +36.9%). Price rises were also recorded, for instance, for fish, fish products and seafood (+2.9%) and for bread and cereals (+2.3%). In contrast, prices fell considerably for fruit (-7.6%) and edible fats and oils (-4.9%).
The prices of goods (total) were 1.8% higher in May 2019 than in May 2018. Apart from considerable increases in energy product prices (+4.2%), newspapers and periodicals (+4.9%) and tobacco products (+3.8%) also became more expensive. However, the prices of some goods declined markedly (for instance mobile phones: -9.6%, consumer electronics: -6.9%).
Compared to goods, the prices of services (total) rose less sharply in May 2019 year on year (+1.2%). This was mainly attributable to the decrease in package holiday prices. Price increases were observed, among other things, for long-distance coach journeys (+19.0%), services of social facilities (+5.1%), maintenance and repair of vehicles (+4.7%) and catering services in restaurants, cafes and the like (+2.8%). Another 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.
Change in May 2019 on April 2019
Compared with April 2019, the consumer price index rose by 0.2% in May 2019. Especially the prices of long-distance coach journeys (+7.6%) increased markedly on the previous month. Prices were also up for motor fuels (+4.0%), fruit (+1.8%) and vegetables (+0.9%). The prices of energy (total) increased by 1.6% month on month. In contrast, package holiday prices were down (-2.4%). In May 2019, passengers paid also less for passenger transport by air (-3.6%) and by rail (-1.7%) compared with a month earlier.
| 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 | |||
| 1 Results do not include charges. | ||||
| Overall index | 1,000.00 | 105.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Food and non-alcoholic-beverages | 96.85 | 107.1 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| Food | 84.87 | 107.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 |
| Meat | 18.60 | 105.9 | 1.3 | 0.5 |
| Fruit | 8.88 | 105.2 | -7.6 | 1.8 |
| Vegetables | 11.08 | 113.6 | 8.7 | 0.9 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.77 | 110.9 | 2.7 | 0.4 |
| Clothing and footwear | 45.34 | 104.7 | 1.2 | -0.6 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 324.70 | 104.9 | 2.0 | 0.2 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 196.32 | 105.4 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.82 | 102.8 | 3.8 | 0.4 |
| Electricity | 25.92 | 106.7 | 3.2 | 0.2 |
| Gas1 | 13.53 | 95.6 | 3.4 | 0.1 |
| Heating oil1 | 7.01 | 120.0 | 3.7 | 2.0 |
| Furniture, lighting equipment, appliances and other household equipment | 50.04 | 102.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Health | 46.13 | 104.4 | 1.1 | -0.1 |
| Transport | 129.05 | 108.0 | 3.1 | 1.0 |
| Motor fuels | 35.01 | 110.5 | 4.6 | 4.0 |
| Supergrade petrol | 25.66 | 110.1 | 5.2 | 4.7 |
| Diesel fuel | 8.64 | 112.2 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Communication | 26.72 | 95.7 | -1.0 | -0.4 |
| Recreation and culture | 113.36 | 103.1 | -1.5 | -0.5 |
| Package holidays | 26.62 | 99.7 | -9.0 | -2.4 |
| Education | 9.02 | 104.6 | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| Restaurant and accommodation services | 46.77 | 109.5 | 2.7 | 0.6 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 74.25 | 105.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding food and energy | 811.30 | 105.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 896.17 | 105.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 957.98 | 105.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Goods | 468.16 | 105.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 297.54 | 106.7 | 2.4 | 0.9 |
| Energy | 103.83 | 105.4 | 4.2 | 1.6 |
| Services | 531.84 | 105.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
Harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose 1.3% in May 2019 on May 2018. Compared with April 2019, the HICP rose by 0.3% in May 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).
