Producer prices for agricultural products were 7.0 percent lower in August 2026 compared to August 2025, though they showed a sharp increase compared to the previous month. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the monthly change in July 2026 was -13.7 percent, and in June 2026 it was -13.9 percent. In August, producer prices rose by 5.5 percent compared to July. This was the strongest month-over-month increase since March 2022, when grain prices surged dramatically following the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
When comparing August 2026 prices to those of the previous year, developments were sharply contrasting between plant and animal products. Prices for plant products increased by 12.3 percent year-on-year. This marked the first increase compared to the previous year since July 2024 (+3.7 percent versus July 2023). Conversely, prices for animals and animal products fell by 16.6 percent. Compared to July 2026, both plant products (+11.1 percent) and animal products (+2.0 percent) saw price increases in August 2026.
The 12.3 percent year-on-year increase in plant product prices is partly attributed to significantly higher prices for potatoes. Potatoes were 61.5 percent more expensive in August 2026 than they were in August 2025. This represented the first price increase since July 2024 (+16.0 percent versus July 2023). In July 2026, the year-on-year change was -45.4 percent, and in June 2026 it was -35.9 percent. Compared to the previous month, July 2026, potato prices almost doubled (+93.0 percent).
The prices for vegetables increased by 14.3 percent within a year, with lettuces (+72.4 percent), tomatoes (+27.8 percent), and cucumbers (+15.4 percent) being notably more expensive. Conversely, prices for cauliflower and cabbage vegetables saw price reductions, falling by 14.7 percent and 6.4 percent respectively over the past year.
In August 2026, wheat was 11.5 percent more expensive than in August 2025 (a monthly increase of +4.1 percent from July 2026). Overall, prices for commercial crops were 7.9 percent higher than a year ago, including rapeseed, which increased by 13.6 percent. Feed crops rose by 4.3 percent compared to the previous year. Wine prices saw a smaller increase of 0.6 percent compared to August 2025.
Fruit producer prices, however, were 20.4 percent lower in August 2026 compared to a year earlier. Price declines were observed in Tafel apples (-32.9 percent) and strawberries (-6.4 percent).
The 16.6 percent drop in prices for animals and animal products year-on-year is partly due to falling milk prices. The price of milk was 23.9 percent lower in August 2026 than in August 2025. However, milk prices increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, July 2026. For eggs, prices saw a year-on-year increase of 7.9 percent.
Animal prices in August 2026 were 13.4 percent lower than in August 2025. The main reason for this was the 19.0 percent price drop for pigs and the 12.9 percent drop for cattle. Poultry prices were 2.5 percent lower in August 2026 compared to August 2025, primarily due to a 4.6 percent price drop in chickens. Conversely, prices for other poultry (ducks and turkeys) increased by 0.6 percent.
