Fürth (dpa/lby) – The inflation rate in Bavaria rose to 8.8 percent in January, after 8.5 percent in December. Energy and food in particular are much more expensive than a year ago. As the State Statistics Office announced on Wednesday, gas cost almost 74 percent more and heating oil 29 percent more. Consumers had to pay almost 20 percent more for groceries.

Dairy products and eggs rose by 34 percent, bread and cereal products by over 23 percent, meat and meat products by around 18 percent, and vegetables by almost 13 percent. Rents for apartments excluding ancillary costs increased by 2.6 percent.

From December to January, consumer prices in Bavaria increased by 0.7 percent. Drivers here were natural gas (plus 38.2 percent), fuels (plus 1.2 percent) and food (1.4 percent more than in December).