Energy prices in Germany and related costs rose again in August and the second quarter of the year, driven by higher expenses for energy, metals, and transport, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Berlin.
The trend comes as pressure grows on consumers and companies, while Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called for a European windfall tax on oil companies to help ease the burden on households.
Industrial and Service Prices Continue to Rise
The Federal Statistical Office said producer prices for industrial goods rose 4.6% year on year in August, and were also up 1.1% from July.
It added that intermediate goods prices increased 6.1% year on year, driven by a 14.8% rise in metals and a 34.6% jump in precious metals and copper.
Transport and Storage Lead Service Cost Increases
Service prices charged by providers rose 3.7% in the second quarter compared with the same period in 2025, the largest annual increase since the final quarter of 2022.
On a quarterly basis, service prices were up 1.6%, with transport and storage leading the rise. That sector recorded a 6.2% annual increase.
Shipping Costs Climb as Fuel and Surcharges Rise
Sea freight and coastal shipping prices rose 20.7% year on year, affected by higher fuel costs and additional surcharges imposed by shipping companies.
The office said higher energy prices and broader business costs helped push up prices across several products and services. It also noted that the service price index does not represent overall consumer inflation.
Germany Pushes for EU Windfall Tax on Oil Profits
In a separate development, German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil called on the European Commission to impose a tax on extraordinary profits made by oil companies, with the revenue used to ease fuel costs for consumers.
Speaking through German public broadcaster reports, Klingbeil said fuel prices have become a major burden for people who depend on their cars and that the proposal has been under discussion for months.
Wider European Support for the Proposal
He said politicians in countries including Spain and Poland support the idea, and added that consultations are continuing within the German government to find ways to address rising fuel prices.
Klingbeil made the remarks during a meeting of European Union finance ministers in Dublin on September 18 and 19, where discussions also covered Europe’s competitiveness and resilience, especially in the banking sector.
Europe Reconsiders How to Share Crisis Costs
According to reports, finance ministers from Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, and Austria sent a letter in August to Ireland’s finance minister asking for a shared European approach that would require those benefiting from the crisis to help ease the burden on the public.
The aim was to put the issue on the agenda for the Dublin meeting, amid calls for a fairer system to deal with the windfall profits made by energy companies since fuel prices surged.
2022 Tax Example Still Shapes Debate
A temporary levy was introduced in 2022 in response to surging energy prices after the war in Ukraine began. It targeted profits from 2022 and 2023 that were more than 20% above the average taxable profits of the previous four years.
The levy was added on top of normal corporate taxes to help finance relief for households and businesses. In Germany, it raised about 1.8 billion euros in 2022.
Conclusion:
The latest figures show that energy prices in Germany continue to weigh on industry, services, and transport, with direct effects on consumers and companies. At the same time, Berlin and several European partners are exploring new tax measures to capture part of oil companies’ windfall profits and reduce the impact on households.
