In April 2017 the index of producer prices for industrial products rose by 3.4% compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This was the highest annual increase since December 2011 (+3.5%). In March 2017 the annual rate of change all over had been 3.1%, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office.

Compared with the preceding month March 2017 the overall index rose by 0.4% in April 2017 (unchanged in March and +0.2% in February).

In April 2017 the price indices of all main industrial groups increased compared with April 2016: Energy prices rose by 4.6%, though the development of prices of the different energy carriers diverged. Prices of petroleum products increased by 14.9% and prices of electricity by 8.2%, whereas prices of natural gas (distribution) decreased by 6.1%. Prices of intermediate goods rose by 4.3%, prices of non-durable consumer goods by 3.2%. Prices of durable consumer goods increased by 1.1% and prices of capital goods by 1.0%.