Germany’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.9% in August 2026, in line with preliminary estimates and up slightly from 2.8% in July. This marked the highest reading since April, largely driven by a sharp acceleration in energy inflation, which climbed to 10.5% from 8.3%. Renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher, resulting in the steepest increase in energy costs in more than three years. Motor fuel prices surged 27.7% (after 23.0% in July), while heating oil prices jumped 49.6%.
By contrast, price pressures in other categories eased. Services inflation edged down to 2.8% from 2.9%, and food inflation slowed to 0.1% from 0.4%. Core inflation—which excludes energy and unprocessed food—remained stable at 2.4%.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% in August, moderating from a 0.8% increase in July. The EU-harmonized inflation rate also picked up to 2.9%, its highest level in four months and notably above the European Central Bank’s 2.0% target.
