Germany's consumer prices fell for the first time since September 2009 in January and at a faster than initially estimated pace, final data from Destatis showed Thursday.
The consumer price index dropped 0.4 percent in January from last year, while it was estimated to fall by 0.3 percent. This was the first drop since September 2009 and the biggest decline since July 2009, when prices slid 0.5 percent.
Month-on-month, consumer prices were down 1.1 percent in January, compared to a 1 percent drop estimated on January 29. Prices remained flat in December.
Excluding food and energy, core consumer prices rose 1.1 percent annually as initially estimated in January.
Further, the statistical office confirmed the preliminary estimates for harmonized consumer prices. On a yearly basis, the harmonized index of consumer prices fell 0.5 percent in January. It was the first fall in the HICP since October 2009.
On a monthly basis, the harmonized index decreased 1.3 percent, in line with flash estimate. In December, the index rose 0.1 percent each on an annual and monthly basis.
In 2014, consumer prices rose 0.9 percent, slower than last year's 1.5 percent and the 2 percent in 2012. A lower annual average rate of price increase was last observed in 2009.
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