The prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose an average 1.2 percent in April 2006 on a year earlier. Above-average price rises were observed in particular for vegetables (+4.7 percent). Prices of fish and seafood increased markedly, too (+3.9 percent).
However, fruit prices were down (–0.7 percent). The price trend for non-alcoholic beverages (+3.3 percent on a year earlier) has still been characterised by rising coffee prices (pure coffee: +8.7 percent).
Compared with March 2006, food prices rose 0.4 percent altogether, including vegetables: +2.3 percent. Among other things, potatoes (+19.0 percent) were much more expensive for seasonal reasons in April 2006, while lettuce (–27.9 percent) and cucumbers (–33.3 percent) were much less expensive.
A consumer-friendly year-on-year price trend was again shown by consumer durables: An average price decrease of 0.4 percent was observed (including washing machines: –6.5 percent; personal computers: –11.5 percent; TV sets: –13.7 percent).
Also, consumer goods with a medium product life were offered at prices that were 0.5 percent lower than in April 2005 (including clothing and footwear: –1.0 percent). Services, however, were an average 1.2 percent above April 2005 levels: In April 2006, among other things, a marked price increase was recorded for the motor vehicle inspections (+7.0 percent on a year earlier and +6.3 percent on a month earlier).
The main reason for this current price increase is that the legally required exhaust gas test for all motorcycles entered into force on 1 April 2006.
The harmonised consumer price index for Germany, which is calculated for European purposes, rose by 2.3 percent in April 2006 compared with April 2005. Compared with the previous month, the index was up 0.4 percent. The estimate of 25 April 2006 was thus confirmed.
Federal Statistical Office Germany
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