According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), wholesale prices in Germany rose by 4.1 percent in March 2026 compared to March 2025. From December 2025 through February 2026, the rate of change compared to the previous year’s month was consistently at +1.2 percent. The last recorded year-on-year price increase exceeding this figure occurred in February 2023, which saw a rise of +9.5 percent over February 2022. The significant price jump in March 2026 was primarily attributed to the fighting in Iran and the Middle East, which specifically drove up wholesale prices for energy products and raw materials. Compared to February 2026, wholesale prices increased by 2.7 percent in March.
The main driver for the overall year-on-year rise in wholesale prices in March 2026 was the escalation in mineral oil products, which averaged 17.8 percent higher than in March 2025. These prices also rose substantially compared to the previous month, February 2026 (+18.8 percent). Furthermore, the wholesale price increase for non-ferrous ores, metals, and semi-finished metals was notable, rising by 48.4 percent compared to March 2025. Additionally, wholesale prices for sugar, confectionery, and baked goods increased by 6.1 percent, while those for tobacco products rose by 5.9 percent year-on-year.
In contrast, wholesale prices for coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices were lower than in March 2025, decreasing by 8.9 percent. Similarly, prices for milk, dairy products, eggs, edible oils, and animal fats fell by 8.3 percent compared to March 2025. Also showing a decrease year-on-year at the wholesale level were flour and cereal products (-5.8 percent), as well as cereals, raw tobacco, seeds, and animal feed (-3.4 percent).