The producer prices of commercial goods were 3.3 % lower in February 2026 than in the same month a year earlier. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on Friday, the prices fell 0.5 % compared with the previous month.
The main driver of the year‑on‑year decline was lower energy prices. Even consumer goods were cheaper than a year ago. In contrast, investment goods, used goods and intermediate goods rose against the same month a year earlier. If energy is excluded, producer prices in February 2026 were up 1.0 % compared with February 2025, and 0.2 % higher than in January 2026.
Energy costs were 12.5 % cheaper than a year earlier, and 1.8 % lower than in January. The sharpest contribution to this drop came from falling gas prices across all buyer groups: natural‑gas prices decreased 14.3 % from February 2025. Electricity costs fell 13.4 %, while district heating was only marginally cheaper (-0.5 %).
Petroleum products saw a 7.0 % price drop from February 2025, but rose 1.1 % from January 2026. Light heating oil cost 6.4 % less than in February 2025, yet 1.9 % more than in January; fuel oils were 1.6 % higher than in February 2025 and 0.9 % higher than in January.
Investment goods were 1.7 % higher than a year earlier, 0.2 % above January levels. Machinery prices increased 1.7 %; car prices and car parts rose 1.2 % from February 2025. Used goods were 2.0 % more expensive than a year earlier and 0.1 % above January.
Consumer goods produced and sold in Germany were 0.6 % cheaper than a year earlier, and 0.3 % lower than January. Food prices as a whole dropped 1.9 %. Butter fell 42.8 % and pork 12.5 % compared with February 2025, whereas beef and coffee rose 19.9 % and 16.1 % respectively.
Intermediate goods were 1.1 % higher than a year earlier, 0.3 % above January. The main culprit for the increase was higher metal prices (+6.5 %); precious‑metal prices leapt 66.8 % from last year. Copper and its semi‑finished products rose 13.8 %, while raw iron, steel and ferroalloys fell 1.9 % (stainless steel down 1.4 %).
Wood and wood or cork products were 6.4 % higher than last year, with needle‑cut timber up 12.8 % and slab timber up 2.6 %. Large gains appeared in pellets, briquettes and logs (+34.9 % from a year earlier, +4.2 % from January).
Glass and glass products rose 4.3 % over the year, driven by a 7.1 % increase in processed flat glass; hollow glass prices fell 1.9 % from February 2025.
Chemical raw materials decreased 3.0 % from last year, although fertilizer prices rose 4.2 %. Paper, cardboard and related goods were 2.3 % lower than a year earlier. Feed for livestock declined 8.1 % and grain flour fell 5.6 % compared with February 2025.
