Producer prices for industrial goods rose by 4.6 percent in August 2026 compared to August 2025. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Friday, the increase observed in August 2026 was 1.1 percent compared to the preceding month, July 2026.
The primary driver for the year-over-year surge in producer prices was the considerable rise in energy prices (+8.3 percent). Prices for input goods also saw a significant jump of 6.1 percent compared to the previous year.
In addition, investment goods (+2.4 percent) and consumer goods (+2.1 percent) were more expensive in August 2026 than they had been a year earlier. Conversely, consumer goods were cheaper, dropping by 2.0 percent. If energy is excluded, producer prices rose by 3.1 percent compared to August 2025 and increased by 0.2 percent from July 2026.
In August 2026, energy costs were 8.3 percent higher than the previous year. Relative to July 2026, energy prices increased by 3.2 percent. Due to military actions in the Iran and the Middle East, mineral oil product prices were 40.5 percent above those recorded in August 2025, and climbed 4.9 percent from July 2026. Raw gasoline (naphtha) cost 44.4 percent more than in August 2025, while light heating oil was 65.3 percent and fuels were 37.7 percent more expensive. Distributed natural gas cost 7.5 percent more across all buyer groups. Electricity prices increased by 1.7 percent compared to August 2025, whereas district heating was 0.5 percent cheaper than the year before.
The prices for input goods rose by 6.1 percent in August 2026 compared to the previous year (+0.2 percent relative to July 2026). This increase was mainly driven by higher metal prices (+14.8 percent), particularly those for precious metals, which saw a substantial increase of 34.6 percent year-over-year. Copper and associated half-finished materials also required 34.6 percent more payment compared to the previous year. Furthermore, pig iron, steel, and ferroalloys were more expensive in August 2026 (+6.9 percent), with construction steel costing 6.3 percent more.
Chemical raw materials prices rose 11.2 percent compared to the previous year, and fertilizers were 8.4 percent more expensive a year ago. Wood and wood/cork products also increased (+7.1 percent), including sawed needle wood at +8.2 percent and sawed leaf wood at +2.2 percent. Pellets, briquettes, and split logs saw significant price spikes of +36.6 percent compared to the previous month.
Overall, glass and glassware prices remained unchanged compared to the previous year. However, refined and processed flat glass was 1.5 percent more expensive, while hollow glass prices fell 0.1 percent compared to August 2025. Paper, cardboard, and goods derived from them cost 0.7 percent more than a year ago. Animal feed (+4.4 percent) and cereal meal (+0.3 percent) also saw price increases compared to August 2025.
Investment goods rose at a rate of 2.4 percent in August 2026 compared to the previous year (+0.2 percent relative to July 2026). Machines cost 2.0 percent more than in August 2025, and prices for cars and car parts also increased by 2.0 percent.
In contrast, consumer goods were 2.0 percent cheaper in August 2026 compared to the previous year and rose by 0.2 percent from July 2026. Overall, food prices within consumer goods dropped by 4.3 percent. Butter was significantly cheaper (-40.5 percent) along with pork (-16.3 percent) and beef (-9.3 percent). However, vegetable oils (+17.5 percent) and sugar (+3.6 percent) were more expensive than the previous year.
