WIESBADEN -- September 01, 2026 -- German shoppers faced a preliminary annual inflation rate of 2.9 percent in August 2026, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported, as rising energy costs pushed up everyday bills faster than in previous months. Consumer prices climbed 0.2 percent compared with July 2026, according to the office's initial calculations. The figures, drawn from both the national Consumer Price Index and the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, matched each other for the month.
Energy Bills Climb Fastest
Energy prices rose 10.5 percent compared with August 2025, Destatis reported, up sharply from an 8.3 percent annual increase in July and a 3.4 percent rise in June. The acceleration marks the third straight month of faster energy price growth, according to the preliminary data.
Core Prices Rise More Slowly
Stripping out food and energy costs, the so-called core inflation rate stood at 2.4 percent for August, Destatis said. That figure sits below the headline number, showing that fuel and utility costs drove most of this month's overall price increase.
Calculator Lets Households Track Their Own Rate
Destatis offers a personal inflation calculator that lets consumers adjust their monthly spending across categories like housing, food and transport to see how price changes affect their own household differently from the national average.
Methodology Shifted Earlier This Year
Since January 2026, Destatis has recalculated the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices using an updated methodology and classification system, with results now indexed against a 2025 base year of 100. The change affects how the European measure compares prices across the euro area but relies on the same underlying price data as the national index.
Final Numbers Land in September
Destatis confirmed that the final results for August 2026 will be published on September 10, 2026.