Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) confirmed the inflation rate for February 2026 at 1.9 %. An estimate had already been released at the end of the month. In January 2026 the rate had risen to +2.1 %, and in December 2025 it was +1.8 %.
“Consumer‑price growth eased slightly in February” said Destatis President Ruth Brand. “In particular the price rise in food fell markedly, which helped curb inflation, while services continued to push the rate upward”.
Energy prices fell 1.9 % in February compared with the same month last year-down from a 1.7 % drop in January. Between February 2025 and February 2026 household energy costs lowered 3.5 %, driven by cheaper natural gas (‑4.4 %), electricity (‑4.1 %) and district heating (‑1.0 %). Light heating oil also fell 4.7 %, while heating fuels rose 6.0 % over the year, and motor fuels ticked up 0.3 %. The conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East that began on 28 February 2026 has not yet affected the February consumer‑price outcome.
Food prices were 1.1 % higher than a year earlier, easing from the +2.1 % increase seen in January. Notable rises were recorded for sugar, jam, honey and other confectionery (+8.1 %, with chocolate at +13.7 %). Meat and meat products climbed 4.5 % (beef and veal +14.5 %, poultry +8.2 %), while fruit and fresh vegetables also rose 4.3 %. Conversely, cooking fats and oils fell 19.7 % (butter −32.9 %, olive oil −12.8 %), and everyday staples like potatoes (-18.1 %) and dairy products (-4.9 %) declined sharply, though eggs rose 14.5 %.
Inflation excluding energy stood at +2.3 % in February, down from +2.5 % in January. Core inflation-excluding both food and energy-remained at +2.5 % in February, matching the previous month and underscoring that price pressures in other key goods and services remain high.
Service prices overall were 3.2 % above the year‑behind level. Since January 2024 service inflation has been above the overall rate. In particular, services from social institutions rose 7.0 %, and combined passenger transport increased 6.2 %-largely due to the higher price of the Deutschlandticket at the start of the year. Other service categories such as vehicle maintenance and repair (+5.0 %), health‑insurance services (+4.4 %), hospitality services (+3.4 %) and water supply and other home services (+3.3 %) also ran higher. Net rent prices added 2.1 %, while only a handful of services fell, most notably telecommunications (-0.2 %).
Goods prices were 0.8 % higher than a year earlier. Consumer goods rose 0.8 %, durable goods up 0.6 %. Aside from food (+1.1 %), other items saw notable increases: non‑alcoholic beverages +5.3 % (coffee, tea and cocoa +16.7 %), and tobacco products +4.7 %. Energy fell 1.9 %, and large household appliances declined 3.1 %.
Compared with January 2026, the consumer‑price index grew 0.2 % in February. Food prices rose 0.1 % (fresh vegetables up 2.7 %), and energy prices progressed 0.2 %. Among services, administrative fees surged 6.9 % due to revised costs for identity documents, and package tours jumped 6.7 %-a seasonal rise.