According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), wholesale selling prices rose by 6.3 percent in April 2026 compared to April 2025. Speaking on Wednesday, the agency also noted that the rate of change relative to the previous year reached +4.1% in March 2026 and +1.2% in February 2026. This quarter’s increase is the highest recorded in the year-on-year comparison since February 2023 (+9.5% compared to February 2022).
Destatis attributes the significant price surge in April 2026 primarily to the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Middle East, which has led to higher wholesale prices, particularly for energy products and raw materials. Furthermore, wholesale prices saw a 2.0% increase from March 2026 to April 2026.
For the overall increase in wholesale prices compared to the previous year, statisticians identified mineral oil products as the main catalyst in April 2026. Prices in this sector averaged 37.3% higher than those recorded in April 2025, and they also significantly jumped by 12.7% compared to the previous month of March 2026.
Other key contributors to the year-on-year price increase included wholesale goods for non-iron ores, metals, and metal semi-finished products, which rose by 40.2% compared to April 2025. Additionally, prices for flowers and plants rose by 9.3%, and chemical products increased by 7.3% compared to the previous year.
However, the report also noted several product groups that saw price declines in April 2026. Wholesale goods for dairy products, milk products, eggs, cooking oils, and fats decreased by 7.8% compared to April 2025. Similarly, prices for coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices fell by 7.5% compared to April 2025.