In May 2018 the index of producer prices for industrial products rose by 2.7% compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. In April the annual rate of change all over had been 2.0%, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

Compared with the preceding month April the overall index rose by 0.5% in May 2018 (+0.5% in April 2018 and +0.1% in March 2018).

In May 2018 the price indices of all main industrial groups increased compared with May 2017: Energy prices were up 5.5%, though the development of prices of the different energy carriers diverged. Prices of petroleum products were up 12.5%, whereas prices of electricity increased by 8.0% and prices of natural gas (distribution) rose by 1.8%. Prices of intermediate goods were up 2.6%. Prices of non-durable consumer goods rose by 0.8% and of durable consumer goods by 1.6%, whereas prices of capital goods increased by 1.2%.

The overall index disregarding energy was 1.7% up on May 2017 and 0.2% compared with April 2018.