Consumer prices in Germany were 1.6% higher in March 2018 than in March 2017. The inflation rate - measured by the consumer price index - thus increased slightly. In the three preceding months the rate of inflation had declined gradually. Compared with February 2018, the consumer price index rose by 0.4% in March 2018. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 29 March 2018.

The prices of energy products were up 0.5% year on year in March 2018. The rise in energy prices was thus considerably smaller than the overall rise in prices. In February 2018, the rate of energy price increase had been even lower at +0.1%. From March 2017 to March 2018, price rises were recorded especially for heating oil (+5.4%). The price of electricity (+1.5%) and charges for central and district heating (+0.8%) were also up on a year earlier. In contrast, price decreases were recorded in the same period for solid fuels (-1.6%), gas (-1.4%) and motor fuels (-0.7%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate in March 2018 would have been +1.6% as well.