Producer Prices of Industrial Goods Rise by 0.7% in February 2025
According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday, producer prices of industrial goods in February 2025 were 0.7% higher than in February 2024. In January 2025, the price change compared to the previous year was 0.5%. The prices of producer goods decreased by 0.2% compared to the previous month.
The main reason for the increase in producer prices compared to the previous year was the price increase of investment goods in February 2025. Consumer and use goods, as well as pre-production goods, were also more expensive than in the previous year, while energy was cheaper. Without energy, producer prices rose by 1.4% compared to the previous year and by 0.3% compared to January 2025.
Energy was 0.8% cheaper in February 2025 than in the previous year. Compared to January 2025, energy prices fell by 1.0%. The greatest influence on the price change compared to the previous year for energy was the price decreases of natural gas in distribution. Over all consumer groups, natural gas prices fell by 2.7% (-2.0% compared to January 2025) in February 2025. District heat was 1.6% cheaper than in February 2024 (+0.1% compared to January 2025).
Prices for mineral oil products fell by 1.7% compared to February 2024 (+0.1% compared to January 2025). Light heating oil was 7.5% cheaper than a year earlier (-4.1% compared to January 2025). Fuel prices were 2.5% cheaper (-0.4% compared to January 2025).
On the other hand, electricity was 1.0% more expensive in February 2025 than in February 2024 and 1.2% cheaper compared to January 2025, over all consumer groups.
Investment goods were 2.0% more expensive in February 2025 than in the previous year (+0.3% compared to January 2025). Machines were 1.9% more expensive than in February 2024 and the prices for motor vehicles and vehicle parts rose by 1.4% compared to February 2024.
Consumer goods were 3.0% more expensive in February 2025 than in February 2024 (+0.1% compared to January 2025). Food was 3.5% more expensive than in February 2024. Butter was significantly more expensive, at +37.7% (-2.6% compared to January 2025) and beef at +21.6% (+3.4% compared to January 2025) and confectionery at +21.1% (+0.6% compared to January 2025). Sugar and pork were, however, significantly cheaper, at -33.5% and -11.7%, respectively.
Consumption goods were 1.2% more expensive in February 2025 than in the previous year (+0.2% compared to January 2025).
Pre-production goods were 0.3% more expensive in February 2025 than in the previous year and 0.4% more expensive than in the previous month.
Price increases compared to February 2024 were also seen in paper, cardboard and products derived from these, at +3.6%, as well as in animal feed, at +2.4%. Chemical basic materials rose in price by 0.7%. Wood and wood and cork products were 3.3% more expensive than in February 2024, with high-quality sawn wood being 11.8% more expensive and low-grade sawn wood being 5.7% cheaper.
Metal prices rose by 0.9% compared to the previous year and by 0.6% compared to the previous month, with copper and semi-finished copper products being 11.2% more expensive and raw iron, steel and ferroalloys being 8.8% cheaper. The prices for concrete steel decreased by 4.0% compared to the previous year. Glass and glassware were 4.6% cheaper than in the previous year, with flat glass being 9.0% cheaper than in February 2024, according to the statisticians.