Press release No. 263 of 14 July 2020
Consumer price index, June 2020
+0.9% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.6% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
Harmonised index of consumer prices, June 2020
+0.8% on the same month a year earlier (provisional result confirmed)
+0.7% on the previous month (provisional result confirmed)
WIESBADEN − The inflation rate in Germany, measured as the year-on-year change in the consumer price index, stood at +0.9% in June 2020. Hence the inflation rate increased slightly in June 2020 (May 2020: +0.6%). The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that consumer prices rose by 0.6% compared with May 2020.
Smaller year-on-year decline in energy product prices, but food prices continue to increase (+4.4%)
The prices of goods (total) rose by just 0.2% from June 2019 to June 2020, which is mainly due to the decreases in energy prices (-6.2%). The price decrease thus slowed (May 2020: -8.5%), above all due to the increase in oil prices in the world market. Especially the prices of heating oil (-26.5%) and motor fuels (-15.1%) were down in June 2020 on the same month of the preceding year, whereas electricity prices were up 4.1%. Also, Food prices increased above average (+4.4%). Prices were up in particular for fruit (+11.1%) and for meat and meat products (+8.2%), while the prices of edible fats and oils declined (-3.6%). Other notable price rises were observed for tobacco products (+6.2%) as well as newspapers and periodicals (+4.5%), while price decreases were recorded, for example, for information processing equipment (-4.9%).
Inflation rate excluding energy products (+1.6%) markedly higher than overall inflation
The marked year-on-year decrease in energy product prices had a downward effect on the inflation rate. Excluding energy product prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.6% in June 2020; excluding the prices of energy products and food, it would have been just +1.3%.
Above-average 1.4% increase in service prices compared with a year earlier
The prices of services (total) rose by an above-average 1.4% in June 2020 compared with the same month a year earlier. A major factor contributing to this price development 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. After the coronavirus restrictions had been eased, consumers were able to purchase more services. However, higher prices had to be paid for hairdresser services and other services for personal care (+5.1%) and for visits to restaurants, cafés and the like (+2.6%). One reason probably was the implementation of hygienic measures after reopening during the corona pandemic. Even higher price increases were recorded for services of social facilities (+5.5%). The prices of long-distance transport tickets were markedly down (-16.0%), one of the reasons being the reduction of value-added tax on long-distance rail tickets from 19% to 7% that took effect at the beginning of the year.
Motor fuel prices up 5.0% on May 2020
Compared with May 2020, the overall consumer price index was up 0.6% in June 2020. The prices of energy products rose (+1.3%), with motor fuel prices increasing most markedly (+5.0%). Among other things, tobacco product prices were up, too (+2.0%). Notable price decreases were recorded for clothing and footwear (-2.3%), which was partly due to first discounts given on spring and summer articles.
Inflation rate of 0.3% expected for euro area
The harmonised index of consumer prices for Germany (HICP), which is calculated for international comparisons, was 0.8% higher in June 2020 than in June 2019. According to the Eurostat early estimate of 30 June 2020, the inflation rate in the euro area was 0.3%. The HICP will next be released on 17 July 2020. For HICP results of all European countries please go to the Eurostat pages.
Methodological note:
Only some prices could not be collected in the reference month of June 2020 due to the present coronavirus crisis. The quality of the results is thus ensured, restrictions in the results are marked. For more information on the methods used and on the impact of the corona crisis on price collection please refer to our Methodological paper.
Crisis Monitor enables comparison between corona crisis and financial/economic crisis
The consumer price index also forms part of the "Crisis Monitor" by means of which the Federal Statistical Office compares the development of major short-term indicators in 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.
German EU Council Presidency
As of 1 July, the Federal Statistical Office will organise the meetings of the Council Working Party on Statistics to be held during Germany’s EU Council Presidency under the chairmanship of its President Dr. Georg Thiel. Information on our activities during the Presidency of the Council of the EU is provided at destatis.de/eu2020.
| Overall index / subindex | Weighting | Index 2015 = 100 | Change on the same period a month earlier | Change on the preceding month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in per mill | in per cent | |||
1: Results do not include charges. ( ) limited informational value because numerical value is of limited statistical reliability. | ||||
| Overall index | 1,000.00 | 106.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Food and non-alcoholic-beverages | 96.85 | 111.6 | 4.1 | 0.0 |
| Food | 84.87 | 112.4 | 4.4 | 0.0 |
| Meat and meat products | 18.60 | 116.0 | 8.2 | 0.3 |
| Fruit | 8.88 | 117.2 | 11.1 | 0.9 |
| Vegetables | 11.08 | 113.9 | 1.4 | -2.4 |
| Alcoholic beverages and tobacco | 37.77 | 115.3 | 3.9 | 1.1 |
| Clothing and footwear | 45.34 | 102.4 | -0.5 | -2.3 |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | 324.70 | 105.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Net rent exclusive of heating expenses | 196.32 | 107.0 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Household energy | 68.82 | 100.6 | -1.4 | -0.3 |
| Electricity | 25.92 | 111.2 | 4.1 | 0.0 |
| Gas 1 | 13.53 | 97.1 | 1.5 | -0.1 |
| Heating oil 1 | 7.01 | 81.8 | -26.5 | -1.9 |
| Furniture, lighting equipment, appliances and other household equipment | 50.04 | 103.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
| Health | 46.13 | 106.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Transport | 129.05 | 104.3 | -3.1 | 1.2 |
| Motor fuels | 35.01 | 92.0 | -15.1 | 5.0 |
| Supergrade petrol | 25.66 | 91.2 | -15.9 | 5.7 |
| Diesel fuel | 8.64 | 94.0 | -13.4 | 3.4 |
| Communication | 26.72 | 95.4 | -0.1 | -0.1 |
| Recreation and culture | 113.36 | 107.0 | -0.3 | 3.8 |
| Package holidays | 26.62 | (114.9) | (-2.8) | (18.7) |
| Education | 9.02 | 102.4 | -0.3 | 0.1 |
| Restaurant and accommodation services | 46.77 | 112.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
| Miscellaneous goods and services | 74.25 | 108.5 | 2.6 | 0.5 |
| Overall index | ||||
| Excluding food and energy | 811.30 | 107.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| Excluding energy (household energy and motor fuels) | 896.17 | 107.6 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
| Excluding heating oil and motor fuels | 957.98 | 107.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 |
| Goods | 468.16 | 105.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Non-durable consumer goods | 297.54 | 106.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Energy | 103.83 | 97.7 | -6.2 | 1.3 |
| Services | 531.84 | 108.0 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
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).
