According to the report from Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). in March 2019 the index of producer prices for industrial products rose by 2.4% compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. Economists had expected a 2.7% increase. In February 2019 the annual rate of change all over had been 2.6%.

Compared with the preceding month February 2019 the overall index decreased by 0.1% in March 2019 (-0.1% in February 2019). Economists had expected a 0.2% increase

In March 2019 the price indices of all main industrial groups increased compared with March 2018. Energy prices, the development of which had the greatest impact on the growth of the overall index, rose by 6.6% (-0.9% compared with February 2019). On an annual basis electricity prices increased by 10.8%, prices of natural gas (distribution) by 6.8% and prices of petroleum products by 5.9%.

The overall index disregarding energy was 1.2% up on March 2018 and 0.1% up compared with February 2019.