The German Federal Statistical Office announced on February 27 that the country’s annual inflation rate dropped to 1.9 percent in February 2026 from 2.1 percent in January according to preliminary consumer price index estimates. The CPI rose 0.2 percent month on month while core inflation stood at 2.5 percent and the harmonised index of consumer prices recorded a 2.0 percent annual rise with a 0.3 percent monthly gain the office said.
The preliminary estimate from the German Federal Statistical Office was compiled from available data provided by the federal states. In its statement the agency indicated that final detailed results would be published in the coming days after full processing. The February outcome reflected readings that followed a 1.8 percent rate in December 2025 according to Destatis historical records. This placed the latest figure near the European Central Bank’s 2 percent medium-term target a level the ECB has identified as its objective in policy updates.
Destatis President Ruth Brand confirmed the 1.9 percent rate in a March 11 release noting that food price rises had eased significantly while services continued to push inflation. The official said the overall index with base year 2020 equal to 100 reached 123.1 in February. Brand added that the development showed a slight slowdown in consumer price increases compared with January’s 2.1 percent. The confirmation aligned precisely with the preliminary estimate issued in late February according to the office’s follow-up report.
According to ECB staff projections published in March 2026 headline inflation for the euro area was expected to average 2.6 percent for the full year revised upward due to energy market uncertainties from Middle East conflicts. The central bank aims to return inflation to 2 percent over the medium term its communications state. Germany’s February data provided an early indication of varying paces across the bloc before energy costs drove a rebound in following months to 2.7 percent in March Eurostat and Destatis figures show. Core inflation projections stood at 2.3 percent for 2026 the ECB assessment found.
The Federal Statistical Office’s detailed breakdown listed food and non-alcoholic beverages as a key factor in the annual slowdown. Energy prices had stabilised in their contribution at that point prior to subsequent surges the agency detailed in later releases. By May 2026 the inflation rate had risen to 2.6 percent the office reported on June 12. Trading Economics compilation of Destatis data places Germany’s long-term average inflation rate at 2.49 percent since 1950.
Later data from the Federal Statistical Office put the inflation rate at 2.7 percent in March 2026 and 2.9 percent in April before it eased to 2.6 percent in May. The agency attributed the April increase to energy prices rising due to the Iran war in its May 12 statement. Ruth Brand president of Destatis noted in the April release that consumers were feeling persistent price pressure regarding motor fuels. The May report indicated consumer prices fell 0.2 percent from April according to the office.
