Press release No. 130 of 12 April 2016
WIESBADEN – Consumer prices in Germany were 0.3% higher in March 2016 compared with March 2015. The inflation rate as measured by the consumer price index thus increased slightly (February 2016: 0.0%). In January 2016, it had been +0.5%. Compared with February 2016, the consumer price index rose markedly by 0.8% in March 2016. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 30 March 2016.
The decrease in energy prices (–8.9% on March 2015) had a considerable downward effect on the overall inflation rate again. Among energy products, especially the prices of heating oil (–28.3%) and motor fuels (–13.5%) were down in March 2016 on a year earlier. The prices of other energy products, too, were below the level of a year earlier (for example, charges for central and district heating: –9.3%; gas: –2.6%). Consumers had to pay slightly more only for electricity (+0.2%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate in March 2016 would have been markedly higher (+1.4%).
The fact that Easter fell early this year (2016: in late March, 2015: in early April) had an upward effect on prices in March 2016. Due to the calendar effect, prices were up especially for package holidays (+7.1%) in a year-on-year comparison. The price movement regarding package holidays alone contributed just under 0.2 percentage points to the current inflation rate.
Also, food prices rose 1.3% in March 2016 year on year. Prices in March 2016 increased on a year earlier especially for fruit (+7.5%) and vegetables (+6.4%). Price rises were also recorded for fish and fish products (+3.5%), and bread and cereals (+0.8%). Consumers paid less than a year earlier especially for edible oils and fats (–6.5%) and for dairy products (–3.3%).
The prices of goods (total) fell by 1.2% in March 2016 compared with the same month a year earlier, the main reason being the decrease in energy prices (–8.9%). Other price decreases were recorded for coffee, tea and cocoa (–3.8%) and articles and products for personal care (–2.0%). Apart from food prices (+1.3%), considerable price increases were observed for some other goods, for example, jewellery, clocks and watches (+4.7%), newspapers and periodicals (+4.4%) and tobacco products (+3.9%).
The prices of services (total) in March 2016 were by 1.6% higher than in March 2015. Again, this price increase was mainly due to the moderate rise in net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+1.1%). Marked price increases were recorded not only for package holidays (+7.1%) but also for recreational and sporting services (+4.8%), hairdresser services and other services for personal care (+2.9%) and catering services in restaurants, cafes and the like (+2.4%). The price development remained consumer-friendly for telecommunications services (–1.6%).
Change in March 2016 on February 2016
Compared with February 2016, the consumer price index rose by 0.8% in March 2016. Part of this increase was due to seasonal factors. Especially the prices of package holidays (+10.1%, including those abroad: +10.8%) were higher than in the previous month. The prices of clothing (+5.6%) and footwear (+7.0%) rose especially with the changeover to the spring and summer collection.
Also, in March 2016, the prices of energy (total) were up 1.0%, especially those of heating oil (+10.1%), on a month earlier. For the first time this year, consumers had to pay slightly more also for motor fuels (total) (+1.3%, including diesel fuel: +4.1%, but autogas: –1.5%). Food prices (total) were just slightly up (+0.4%) in March 2016 compared with the previous month. Price increases were observed for fruit (+1.7%) and vegetables (+2.8%), decreases for example for edible oils and fats (–3.5%, including butter: –6.2%).
| 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 | 107.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | 102.71 | 113.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 |
| Food | 90.52 | 113.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 |
| Meat | 20.76 | 112.9 | 0.4 | –0.1 |
| Fruit | 8.76 | 126.6 | 7.5 | 1.7 |
| Vegetables | 11.26 | 113.0 | 6.4 | 2.8 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.59 | 114.6 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Clothing and footwear | 44.93 | 108.3 | –0.3 | 5.6 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 317.29 | 107.5 | –0.6 | 0.3 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 209.93 | 107.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.19 | 107.4 | –6.5 | 0.8 |
| Electricity | 26.21 | 125.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Gas | 14.46 | 107.6 | –2.6 | –0.1 |
| Heating oil | 11.11 | 69.8 | –28.3 | 10.1 |
| Furnishings, household equipment and so on | 49.78 | 103.9 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
| Health | 44.44 | 104.7 | 1.6 | 0.2 |
| Transport | 134.73 | 103.0 | –2.6 | 0.5 |
| Motor fuels | 38.37 | 85.8 | –13.5 | 1.3 |
| Supergrade petrol | 28.38 | 86.5 | –12.8 | 0.6 |
| Diesel fuel | 9.19 | 83.7 | –16.0 | 4.1 |
| Communication | 30.10 | 90.7 | –1.0 | –0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 114.92 | 108.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| Package holidays | 26.83 | 117.6 | 7.1 | 10.1 |
| Education | 8.80 | 94.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| Restaurants and hotels | 44.67 | 112.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 70.04 | 108.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 950.52 | 108.6 | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| Excluding household energy | 931.81 | 107.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 893.44 | 108.2 | 1.4 | 0.7 |
| Goods | 479.77 | 106.1 | –1.2 | 0.9 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 307.89 | 108.0 | –2.2 | 0.5 |
| including: | ||||
| Energy | 106.56 | 99.6 | –8.9 | 1.0 |
| Services | 520.23 | 108.3 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
| 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 | 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 | |
| March | 107.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | |
Harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany
The harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP) for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose by 0.1% in March 2016 on March 2015. Compared with February 2016, the index was up 0.8% in March 2016. This confirmed the HICP estimates of 30 March 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).