According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), wholesale prices in Germany were 5.9 percent higher in May 2026 compared to May 2025. This figure follows increases of 6.3 percent in April 2026 and 4.1 percent in March 2026.
The main driver for the price increase in May 2026 was the rising cost of mineral oil products, which averaged 30.5 percent higher than in May 2025. While wholesale prices for energy products and raw materials increased due to military actions in Iran and the Near East, the overall wholesale prices actually fell by 0.6 percent compared to April. This month-on-month decrease was primarily caused by a reduction in the energy tax rate on mineral oil products.
For broader sector performance, the rise in mineral oil products offset the price drops in other areas. Significant year-over-year increases were observed in wholesale non-ferrous ores, metals, and semi-finished metals at 36.1 percent versus May 2025. Additionally, wholesale chemical products prices rose by 13.3 percent compared to the previous year (up 4.3 percent compared to April 2026). Plants and flowers remained more expensive than in the previous year (up 8.5 percent) but saw a seasonal decrease of 5.6 percent when compared to April 2026. Iron, steel, and derived semi-finished goods saw a 6.7 percent hike at the wholesale level versus the previous year.
Conversely, several categories experienced price declines. Wholesale living animals were significantly cheaper, dropping 10.1 percent compared to May 2025 (down 3.5 percent from April). On a similar note, coffee, tea, cocoa, and spices were priced 10.7 percent lower year-over-year (down 0.3 percent from April). Furthermore, dairy products, milk, eggs, cooking oils, and dietary fats saw a decline of 8.1 percent compared to May 2025 (down 0.5 percent from April).
