Producer prices for industrial goods fell 3.0 % in January 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier. Destatis also reported a 0.6 % drop relative to the previous month. The main reason for the year‑on‑year decline was lower energy prices; consumer goods were cheaper than a year ago, while investment goods, durable goods and intermediate goods were more expensive. Excluding energy, producer prices rose 1.2 % versus the same month a year earlier and 0.6 % versus December 2025.
Energy prices were 11.8 % cheaper than in January 2025 and fell 3.2 % from December 2025. The largest contribution to the year‑on‑year drop came from a 13.7 % fall in natural‑gas distribution prices. Electricity prices were 11.2 % lower, and district heat was only 0.3 % cheaper than a year earlier.
Mineral‑oil products decreased 8.0 % versus January 2025 but increased 2.8 % versus December 2025, mainly because CO₂ certificates had risen from January 2026 onward. Light heating oil was 11.9 % cheaper than in January 2025 yet 6 % higher than in December 2025. Fuels were 0.3 % higher than in January 2025 and 7.5 % higher than in December 2025.
Investment goods were 1.8 % higher than a year earlier (and 0.6 % higher than December 2025). Machine prices rose 1.7 %, and car and automotive parts increased 1.2 % versus January 2025. Durable goods were 2.1 % more expensive than a year earlier (0.7 % higher versus December 2025).
Consumer goods sold in Germany were 0.2 % cheaper than a year earlier and 0.4 % cheaper than in December 2025. Food prices, on average, fell 1.3 %. Butter dropped 43.7 %, pork 14.1 %, while beef rose 24.5 % and coffee increased 14.7 %.
Intermediate‑goods prices were 1.2 % higher than a year earlier (0.9 % higher than December 2025). Metals saw a 6.6 % increase, driven largely by a 68.2 % rise in precious‑metal prices. Copper and its semi‑finished products were 19.7 % more expensive, whereas crude iron, steel, and ferroalloys fell 3.2 % (rebar down 2.1 %).
Wood, wood, and cork products were 7.0 % pricier than a year earlier, including needle lumber up 14.6 % and bark lumber up 2.0 %. Pellets, briquettes, and logs spiked 41.6 % versus the same month, 3.9 % higher than December 2025.
Glass and glass products increased 3.8 % versus a year earlier. Finishing and flat glass rose 6.8 %, while hollow glass fell 4.2 % versus January 2025.
Chemicals were 2.4 % cheaper than a year earlier, while paper, cardboard, and related goods were 1.0 % lower. Animal feed dropped 8.3 % and grain flour fell 5.0 % compared with January 2025.