Germany’s inflation rate rose to 2.1% in January, confirming preliminary figures and indicating stronger price pressures at the start of the year, especially for food and services.
Consumer prices increased 0.1% from December, as falling energy costs partly offset rises elsewhere, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).
Energy prices were down 1.7% year‑on‑year, with household electricity falling 3.2% and natural gas down 2.5%, helped by lower grid fees and the removal of the gas storage levy.
Food inflation accelerated to 2.1% year‑on‑year, up from 0.8% in December. Sweets and chocolate saw particularly steep rises, and prices increased for fruit and meat, while butter, oils and potatoes were noticeably cheaper than a year earlier.
“Overall, consumer price increases intensified at the beginning of the year,” Destatis President Ruth Brand said. “Food prices, in particular, rose more sharply in January than in the preceding months.”
Core inflation excluding food and energy remained elevated at 2.5%. Services rose 3.2% year‑on‑year, driven by higher costs in social facilities, transport and rent.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
