The inflation rate in Germany was 1.35 percent in 2019. The current rate meets the European Central Bank’s target rate, which is “below, but close to, 2 percent.” Many central bankers favor inflation between 2 and 3 percent, but Germans in particular would rather risk deflation than too much inflation.

Causes of inflation

Central bankers like low, stable inflation because this is a sign of a growing economy. When the economy grows, workers become more productive and spend more, and prices slowly rise. Monetary policy can cause inflation, but Germany has given this responsibility to the European Central Bank (ECB). Importantly, inflation expectations affect inflation, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The German context

During the eurozone crisis, German politicians were advocating for the ECB to raise interest rates quickly. This would have reduced inflation, possibly causing deflation, but would have presented another hurdle for the struggling Greek economy. This is because of the hyperinflation of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, when Germans carried their pay home in wheelbarrows because the banknotes had lost so much value. Ever since, Germans often warn that inflation harms pensioners and that personal provisions are necessary in any case. Fortunately for them, this statistic forecasts stable, modest inflation that does not alarm many economists.

Inflation Rate in Germany decreased to 2 percent in June from 2.10 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Germany Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Hyperinflation is a scenario where the prices for goods and services rise rapidly and uncontrollably. There have been several episodes of hyperinflation throughout history, such as that which afflicted Weimar Germany in the 1920s, when the daily inflation rate was estimated to be 20.9 percent. The most severe case of hyperinflation, however, was estimated to be in Hungary in 1946, when the daily inflation rate was approximately 207 percent.

The study of Jürgen Nautz deals with selected aspects of tariff autonomy and wage development during the years of inflation in the Weimar Republic. First the development of wages will be presented in the context of cost of living. To investigate the question of tariff autonomy in the inflation period it is of special interest to analyze the usage of arbitration instruments by unions, management and the state. Another central subject of this study is the fundamental position concerning the question of the design of important relations. Two themes are in the focus of interest; the ideas of the further refinement of the collective bargaining principle and the arbitration of labor disputes. Especially concerning tariff autonomy legal positions were developed during the inflation years which had an important impact on the discussion about tariff autonomy during the entire period the Weimar Republic.

Data tables in HISTAT: A.1 Development of cost of living: Index of the statistical office of the German Empire (1920-1923) A.2 Index of average real weekly wages per collective agreement Index (1913-1923) A.3 Real weekly and real hourly wages of unskilled and skilled workers (1919-1923) A.4 Strikes and lockouts (1918-1924) A.5 Number of collective agreements (1918-1929)