Press release No. 497 of 27 October 2021
Import prices, September 2021
+1.3% on the previous month
+17.7% on the same month a year earlier
Export prices, September 2021
+0.9% on the previous month
+8.1% on the same month a year earlier
WIESBADEN – As reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the index of import prices increased by 17.7% in September 2021 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year change since August 1981 (+19.5% on August 1980). In August 2021 and in July 2021 the annual rates of change were +16.5% and +15.0%, respectively. From August 2021 to September 2021 the index rose by 1.3%.
High price increase mainly caused by energy price development
In September 2021 energy imports were 107.1% more expensive than in September 2020. The largest influence on the year-on-year rate of energy price increase had natural gas with a plus of 170.6% and crude oil with a plus of 75.5%.
The index of import prices, excluding crude oil and mineral oil products, increased by 14.7% in September 2021 compared with September 2020 and in comparison with August 2021 it rose by 1.3%.
The index of export prices increased by 8.1% in September 2021 compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. This has been the highest year-on-year-change since January 1975 (+10.5% on January 1974). In August 2021 and in July 2021 the annual rates of change were +7.2% and +6.3%, respectively. From August 2021 to September 2021 the index rose by 0.9%.
More detailed data and long time series are available in tables Index of import prices (61411-0002 and 61411-0006) and Index of export prices (61421-0002 and 61421-0006) in the GENESIS-Online database.
Crisis monitor allows comparison between corona crisis and and financial and economic crisis
The import price index is also part of the "Crisis monitor", which is used by the Federal Statistical Office to compare the development of major short-term indicators between the corona crisis and the financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009. The "Crisis monitor" complements the "Corona statistics" webpage, which has provided statistical information on the economic and social consequences of the corona pandemic since early April.
