Press release No. 405 of 27 August 2021
Import prices, July 2021
+2.2% on the previous month
+15.0% on the same month a year earlier
Export prices, July 2021
+1.2% on the previous month
+6.3% on the same month a year earlier
WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the index of import prices increased by 15.0% in July 2021 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year-change since September 1981 (+17.4%). In June 2021 and in May 2021 the annual rates of change were +12.9% and +11.8%, respectively. From June 2021 to July 2021 the index rose by 2.2%.
High price increase mainly caused by energy price development
In July 2021 energy imports were 89.6% more expensive than in July 2020. This high rate of annual change derives from the very low prices in July 2020. The largest influence on the year-on-year rate of energy price increase in July 2021 had natural gas with a plus of 170.5% and crude oil with a plus of 68.9%.
The index of import prices, excluding crude oil and mineral oil products, increased by 12.2% in July 2021 compared with July 2020 and in comparison with June 2021 it rose by 2.0%.
The index of export prices increased by 6.3% in July 2021 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year-change since January 1982 (+6.6%). In June 2021 and in May 2021 the annual rates of change were +5.0% and +4.2%, respectively. From June 2021 to July 2021 the index rose by 1.2%.
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.
