Germany’s national inflation rate, which stood at 1.9 % in February, is expected to have risen sharply in March because of the war in the Middle East. Early state‑by‑state figures released on Monday morning support this inference.
In Saarland the rate jumped from 1.8 % in February to 3.0 %. North Rhine‑Westphalia climbed to 2.7 % from 1.8 %, Hessen to 2.9 % from 1.8 %, and Rhineland‑Palatinate rose to 2.9 % from 1.9 %. All other states that published data also saw increases: Saxony’s inflation is now 2.8 % (up from 2.3 %); Brandenburg’s is 2.8 % (from 2.0 %); Bavaria’s is 2.8 % (from 1.9 %). Slightly lower rises were reported in Saxony‑Anhalt (2.6 % from 2.0 %), Berlin (2.5 % from 1.9 %), Lower Saxony (2.6 % from 1.9 %), and Baden‑Wurttemberg (2.5 % from 1.8 %).
The Federal Statistical Office will publish its provisional national inflation estimate later today, usually around 2 p.m. Final figures are expected by mid‑month, and changes from the preliminary figures are rare.
