In April 2008 consumer prices increased less than in March this year. As was reported by the Federal Statistical Office, the annual inflation rate in April will presumably amount to 2.4%. In March this year the rate had been 3.1%. In the period between March and April consumer prices even fell by an estimated 0.2%.
One of the factors which most led to less inflation in April were lower prices for travel packages, in particular in the period after Easter when prices fell by -13.4% as compared to March 2008 and by -7.4% as compared to April 2007.
Foodstuffs, on the other hand, became more expensive in April so that prices were up by between 6.5% and 8.8% in different Federal Laender as compared to April 2007. The price of fuel oil increased by between 1.1% and 4.6% as compared to March this year and by between 33.7% and 42.9% in comparison with April last year. Fuel prices changed only slightly as compared to March 2008, but were significantly up on the prices in April 2007 (by between 7.8% and 10.8%).
The so-called harmonized European consumer price index for Germany will probably increase by 2.6% in April 2008 as compared to April 2007. In comparison with March 2008 this index fell by 0.3%. 