Germany inflation rate (HICP)
Germany inflation rate (HICP) stood at 2.3% in 2025, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Price indices (annual) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1998 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Price indices (annual) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index (%)4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 6 | 8.7 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.4 | |
| Food incl. alcohol and tobacco (%) | 2.7 | 2.8 | 11.7 | 10.6 | 3 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 1.3 | |
| Industrial goods excluding energy (%) | 1 | 1.4 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 2.5 | -0.1 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1 |
Understanding germany inflation rate (HICP)
Quantifies the overall annual percentage change in the harmonised index of consumer prices across the entire consumption basket. This overarching metric captures the speed at which retail prices are shifting for the complete set of goods and services purchased by households. Unlike the absolute index level, this figure expresses the net inflationary or deflationary pressure over a twelve-month horizon. It serves as the primary headline rate for monetary policy assessment, encompassing everything from energy and rent to food and manufactured items, calculated under standardized European rules to maintain strict methodological alignment with neighboring economies.
Evaluating this headline rate requires distinguishing between base effects from previous periods and new underlying price pressures. Sudden spikes in volatile components, particularly energy, often distort the overall figure and obscure the trajectory of core items. The annual percentage change automatically smooths out regular seasonal variations, making it the preferred gauge for structural inflation trends compared to month-on-month volatility. Revisions to the underlying index basket or adjustments to expenditure weights can occasionally introduce artificial shifts in this rate, necessitating careful review of methodological notes during base year updates.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this rate differ from the national CPI inflation rate?
- The harmonised rate applies standardized European rules for basket coverage and weighting, which can exclude certain owner-occupied housing costs present in the national CPI.
- Why is the annual rate of change preferred over shorter comparisons?
- Year-on-year calculations naturally filter out regular seasonal price fluctuations, providing a clearer view of underlying structural inflation.
- Does this metric reflect changes in income taxes?
- No, consumer price calculations track the retail cost of goods and services, excluding direct taxation on household income.