Brandenburg CPI

March: +0.2% m/m, +2.1% y/y
February: +0.8% m/m, +2.5% y/y
—
Pan-German CPI

MNI median forecast: +0.4% m/m, +2.2% y/y
MNI forecast range: +0.3% to +0.6% m/m

February: +0.7% m/m, +2.3% y/y
—

BERLIN (MNI) – Consumer prices in the eastern German state of
Brandenburg rose 0.2% in March, dampening the annual inflation rate to
+2.1% from +2.5%, the state statistics office said Wednesday.

The monthly result is below the median forecast of +0.4% for
pan-German CPI in a MNI survey of analysts.

Upward pressure on monthly inflation came again from the energy
side. Motor fuel spiked 3.8%, while heating oil, electricity and gas all
rose by 0.1%.

Clothing and shoes were 1.5% more expensive than a month ago. Food
prices were up 0.3%, with seasonal produce up 0.2%.

After the end of the winter holiday season, prices for package
holiday tours fell 2.9% on the month. Restaurant and hotel services were
down 0.4%.

Annual price developments were again driven by energy price
increases, with heating oil up 10.4%, motor fuel up 5.6%, gas up 7.6%
and electricity up 1.9%.

Food prices climbed 3.3% on the year, with seasonal produce down
0.8%. Alcoholic drinks and tobacco products increased by 4.0%. Clothing
and shoes were up 2.9%.

CPI excluding heating oil and motor fuel was unchanged on the month
and 1.8% higher on the year.

Due to sticky high oil prices, analysts expect annual inflation to
remain above 2% for the near future. However, core inflation is seen
rising only modestly due to weak wage growth over the past two years.

Last week, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine
Lagarde said that recent developments in oil had overtaken the Eurozone
sovereign debt crisis as the biggest concern for global growth.

The German Finance Ministry last week warned of inflation risks
from the oil price rise. “The resulting burden on purchasing power could
impair the momentum of consumption growth by private households,” it
cautioned.

Import prices in Germany maintained their upward trend in February
on the back of costlier energy, though the pace of increase declined,
the Federal Statistical Office reported on Tuesday.

ECB president Mario Draghi said on Monday that inflation in the
Eurozone was under control.

“Market indicators of inflation expectations overall show no signs
of inflation above our medium-term objective,” Draghi said. “Market
expectations of long-term inflation are fully consistent with our
definition of medium-term price stability.”

For detailed information see data table on MNI MainWire.

–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com

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