The inflation rate - measured by the consumer price index - thus reached the two percent mark for the fourth consecutive month. Compared with July 2018, the consumer price index was up 0.1% in August 2018. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 30 August 2018.

As in the preceding months, the increase of energy product prices had a considerable effect on the inflation rate. Energy prices were 6.9% higher in August 2018 than in August 2017 (July 2018: +6.6%). The prices of heating oil (+29.7%) and motor fuels (+12.4%), in particular, were higher than a year earlier. While the prices of mineral oil products rose sharply, relatively moderate price developments were observed for other energy products (for example, charges for central and district heating: +2.0%; electricity: +1.0%; gas: -1.5%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.5% in August 2018.

7. The inflation rate - measured by the consumer price index - thus reached the two percent mark for the fourth consecutive month. Compared with July 2018, the consumer price index was up 0.1% in August 2018. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) thus confirms its provisional overall results of 30 August 2018.

As in the preceding months, the increase of energy product prices had a considerable effect on the inflation rate. Energy prices were 6.9% higher in August 2018 than in August 2017 (July 2018: +6.6%). The prices of heating oil (+29.7%) and motor fuels (+12.4%), in particular, were higher than a year earlier. While the prices of mineral oil products rose sharply, relatively moderate price developments were observed for other energy products (for example, charges for central and district heating: +2.0%; electricity: +1.0%; gas: -1.5%). Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate would have been +1.5% in August 2018.