Press release No. 078 of 25 February 2022
Import prices, January 2022
+4.3% on the previous month
+26.9% on the same month a year earlier
Export prices, January 2022
+1.8% on the previous month
+11.9% on the same month a year earlier
WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the index of import prices increased by 26.9% in January 2022 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year change since October 1974 (+28.8%, on October 1973). In December 2021 and in November 2021 the annual rates of change were +24.0% and +24.7%, respectively. From December 2021 to January 2022 the index rose by 4.3%.
High price increase mainly caused by energy price development
In January 2022 energy imports were 144.4% more expensive than in January 2021. The largest influence on the year-on-year rate of energy price increase had natural gas with a plus of 302.7%, followed by crude oil with a plus of 66.8%.
The index of import prices, excluding crude oil and mineral oil products, increased by 24.1% in January 2022 compared with January 2021 and in comparison with December 2021 it rose by 3.7%.
The index of export prices increased by 11.9% in January 2022 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year-change since December 1974 (+15.2% on December 1973). In December 2021 and in November 2021 the annual rates of change were +10.9% and +9.9%, respectively. From December 2021 to January 2022 the index rose by 1.8%.
Crisis monitor allows comparison between corona crisis and and financial and economic crisis
The import price index is also part of the "Crisis monitor", which is used by the Federal Statistical Office to compare the development of major short-term indicators between the corona crisis and the financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009. The "Crisis monitor" complements the "Corona statistics"webpage, which has provided statistical information on the economic and social consequences of the corona pandemic since early April.
More detailed data and long time series are available in tables Index of import prices (61411-0002 and 61411-0006) and Index of export prices (61421-0002 and 61421-0006) in the GENESIS-Online database.
