Press release No. 091 of 11 March 2016
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany in February 2016 were on the same level as in February 2015. The inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index fell to 0.0% in February 2016. In January 2016 it had been +0.5%. The consumer price index rose by 0.4% in February 2016 compared with January 2016. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 26 February 2016.
The development of energy prices has had a downward effect on the overall rise in prices since July 2014. Energy prices as a whole were markedly down again in February 2016 from a year earlier (–8.5%). The decrease of energy prices accelerated in comparison with the previous months. In February 2016, especially prices of heating oil (–33.6%) were down year on year, as well as motor fuels (–11.0%). In addition to that, the prices of all other energy products were also still below the level of the preceding year (for example, charges for central and district heating: –9.4%; gas: –2.5%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate would have been markedly higher (+0.9%) in February 2016.
Food prices rose by 0.8% in February 2016 compared with February 2015. Prices of fruit were notably higher (+5.8%) than a year earlier. Price increases were also recorded, among other things, for fish and fish products (+2.7%) and for vegetables (+1.7%). In contrast, consumers paid less than a year earlier especially for dairy products (–3.9%).
The prices of goods (total) fell by 1.1% in February 2016 compared with February 2015, the main reason being the decrease in energy prices. Lower prices were also recorded for coffee, tea and cocoa (–3.0%) as well as articles and products for personal care (–1.3%). Prices to the consumer were markedly up not only for food (total) but also for some other goods such as jewellery, clocks and watches (+6.7%), newspapers and periodicals (+4.7%) and tobacco products (+3.9%).
Compared with the overall inflation rate, the prices of services (total) rose above average (0.9%) in February 2016 on February 2015. This price rise was mainly due to the increase in net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.1%), for which households spend roughly a fifth of their consumption expenditure. Other year-on-year price increases were observed for catering (+2.4%), transport services and insurance services (+1.5% each). The prices of package holidays, however, were markedly down year on year (–5.7%).
Price declines were recorded also for air tickets (–1.2%) and telecommunications services (–1.6%).
Change in February 2016 on January 2016
Compared with January 2016, the consumer price index rose by 0.4% in February 2016. Due to the continuing sharp decline in crude oil prices, lower prices were observed month on month for both mineral oil products (–2.2%, of which supergrade petrol: –2.6%) and household energy (–0.3%, of which heating oil: –0.5%; charges for central and district heating: –0.8%). The prices of energy in general were down 0.9% in February 2016 on January 2016.
The increase in total consumer prices on the previous month was mainly due to seasonal factors. Especially package holiday prices (+9.0%) were higher than in January 2016. Higher prices were also recorded for vegetables (+2.7%, of which cucumbers: +29.9%), fruit (+2.4%, of which citrus fruit: +5.9%) as well as products and non-durable consumer goods for gardening (+1.4%, of which cut flowers: +4.1%). Price increases were determined for clothing (+1.8%), too. Here the changeover from the winter to the spring collection played a decisive role and, to some extent, the end of seasonal sales.
| 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 | 106.5 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 113.1 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Food | 90.52 | 113.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 113.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 124.5 | 5.8 | 2.4 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 109.9 | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 114.4 | 2.1 | –0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 102.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 107.2 | –0.8 | 0.0 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 107.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 106.5 | –7.3 | –0.3 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 125.1 | –0.2 | 0.0 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 107.7 | –2.5 | –0.2 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 63.4 | –33.6 | –0.5 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 103.7 | 1.0 | 0.1 |
| Health | 44.44 | 104.5 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 102.5 | –1.7 | –0.4 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 84.7 | –11.0 | –2.2 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 86.0 | –9.2 | –2.6 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 80.4 | –16.5 | –1.0 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 90.8 | –1.1 | –0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 105.4 | –0.6 | 2.1 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 106.8 | –5.7 | 9.0 |
| Education | 8.80 | 94.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 112.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 108.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 107.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Excluding household energy | 931.81 | 106.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 107.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 105.2 | –1.1 | 0.0 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 107.5 | –2.2 | 0.0 |
| including: | ||||
| Energy | 106.56 | 98.6 | –8.5 | –0.9 |
| Services | 520.23 | 107.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Overall index ________ Year / Month | Index 2010 = 100 | Change on the same period a year earlier | Change on the preceding month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in % | ||||
| A = annual average –= no figures or magnitude zero | ||||
| 2014 A | 106.6 | 0.9 | − | |
| 2015 A | 106.9 | 0.3 | − | |
2015 | February | 106.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 |
| March | 107.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | |
| April | 107.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
| May | 107.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | |
| June | 107.0 | 0.3 | –0.1 | |
| July | 107.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |
| August | 107.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |
| September | 107.0 | 0.0 | –0.2 | |
| October | 107.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |
| 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 | |
Harmonised consumer price index for Germany
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, fell by 0.2% in February 2016 on February 2015. The index rose by 0.4% in February 2016 on January 2016. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 26 February 2016. The results of the HICP have been published on index base 2015 = 100 (before: 2005 = 100) since the end of February 2016.
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).