Producer prices for commercial goods in Germany fell by 3.0 % in January 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced on Friday. Compared with December 2025, the level was 1.2 % higher, and the month-on-month change was 0.6 % lower.
Energy accounted for most of the annual decline. Prices for all energy products were 11.8 % cheaper than a year earlier, and 3.2 % lower than in December 2025. The biggest contribution to the drop came from a 13.7 % fall in natural‑gas prices across all consumer groups. Electricity prices were 11.2 % lower than in January 2025, and district‑heat (Fernwärme) was only slightly cheaper at 0.3 % lower than a year ago.
Mineral oil products were 8.0 % cheaper than in January 2025, but 2.8 % higher than in December 2025, mainly because of rising CO₂‑certificate costs from January 2026. Light heating oil cost 11.9 % less than a year earlier but 6 % more than in December, while fuels were 0.3 % higher than a year ago and 7.5 % higher than in December.
In the investment‑goods sector, prices rose 1.8 % over the year, and 0.6 % over December 2025. Machinery costs increased 1.7 %, while car and automotive‑parts prices went up 1.2 % versus January 2025. Durable goods were 2.1 % more expensive than a year earlier, with a 0.7 % rise versus December 2025.
Consumer goods produced and sold in Germany were 0.2 % cheaper than a year earlier, and 0.4 % lower than in December 2025. Food prices fell overall by 1.3 %. Butter dropped 43.7 % and pork 14.1 %, whereas beef rose 24.5 % and coffee 14.7 % compared with January 2025.
For services and intermediate goods, producer prices were 1.2 % higher than a year ago, and 0.9 % higher than December 2025. The increase was mainly driven by a 6.6 % rise in metal prices, especially precious metals, which climbed 68.2 % from the previous year. Copper and its intermediate products were up 19.7 %. Conversely, crude iron, steel, ferroalloys and concrete steel were 3.2 % lower – concrete steel fell 2.1 %.
Wood and wood‑and‑cork products were 7.0 % higher than a year ago, with needle‑fence lumber up 14.6 % and board‑fence lumber 2.0 %. There were sharp increases in pellets, briquettes and firewood, up 41.6 % against a year earlier and 3.9 % versus December 2025.
Glass and glass goods rose 3.8 % over the year, with flat treated glass up 6.8 % and hollow glass down 4.2 % compared with January 2025. Chemical raw materials fell 2.4 % and paper, cardboard and related products dropped 1.0 %. Animal feed for livestock fell 8.3 % and wheat flour 5.0 % compared with January 2025.
