Halle (dpa/sa) - Inflation rose in Saxony-Anhalt in January. The inflation rate was 8.8 percent and thus 0.9 points higher than in December, as announced by the state statistics office in Halle on Wednesday. At the end of 2022, inflation had recently eased somewhat after peaking in autumn.
The fact that inflation is now picking up again is also due to the sharp rise in food prices: Compared to December 2022, the prices for fruit, vegetables and beer have risen disproportionately, as reported by the statistics authority. But energy prices also rose again. In December, the one-off assumption of the down payment for gas and district heating customers by the state dampened the increase in this segment. This effect disappeared in January.
Economists do not expect a thorough easing in prices this year. The federal government expects a national inflation rate of 6 percent on average for the year. Higher inflation rates reduce the purchasing power of consumers. They can afford one euro less. This can weigh on consumption, which is an important pillar of the economy.
