Rising inflation: These foods have become particularly expensive

Consumer prices were 2.4 percent higher than in the same month last year, the Federal Statistical Office confirmed earlier preliminary calculations. In August, the rate in this country increased to 2.2 percent for the first time this year. “After declining inflation since the beginning of the year, the inflation rate has now risen for the second month in a row,” said Ruth Brand, President of the Federal Statistical Office.

According to economists, consumers in Germany will initially have to put up with inflation rates above the two percent mark. Higher inflation rates reduce purchasing power: people can then afford less for one euro.

Every month, the Federal Statistical Office calculates how prices have developed compared to the previous month and the previous month. To do this, the statisticians note down in stores how much fruit and vegetables, shoes and furniture cost. How much is the apartment rent, how much does gas cost at the gas station? Thousands of individual prices of goods and services are recorded representatively according to the same pattern. A portion is also collected online.

According to statisticians, consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent from August to September 2025. Even core inflation excluding the volatile prices for food and energy rose slightly again to 2.8 percent.

At least: The wave of inflation that hit Germany after the Russian attack on Ukraine has ended. Inflation fell to 2.2 percent last year – after 6.9 percent in 2022 and 5.9 percent in 2023. Leading economic research institutes expect a relatively moderate value of 2.1 percent for the current year.

But inflation feels higher. People notice price increases, especially when shopping every day. Food prices were 2.1 percent higher in September than a year earlier. For example, fruit (plus 5.1 percent), meat products (plus 3.2 percent) and especially chocolate (plus 21.2 percent) were significantly more expensive, while vegetables became cheaper (minus 2.1 percent).

Economists at the European Central Bank recently calculated that food prices in Germany have risen by 37 percent since the pre-Corona year of 2019.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, inflation in services rose again: after 3.1 percent in July and August, prices here were 3.4 percent higher in September than in the same month of the previous year. Motor vehicle insurance, car repairs and bus and train tickets have become significantly more expensive. International flights, on the other hand, became cheaper.

Energy was 0.7 percent cheaper in September than a year earlier. For example, electricity (minus 1.6 percent) and fuels (minus 1.8 percent) became cheaper, while fuels (plus 1.1 percent) and natural gas (plus 0.7 percent) became slightly more expensive. In August, however, energy prices were still 2.4 percent below the level of the same month last year, thus dampening the inflation rate.