Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – The inflation rate in North Rhine-Westphalia was 11.0 percent in October. As the Statistical Office IT.NRW announced on Friday, this is the highest increase in consumer prices in NRW since the early 1950s. Price drivers are above all the energy costs, which have risen enormously within a year. Compared to October 2021, the prices for household energies have increased by 66.8 percent – including firewood, wood pellets and the like (plus 114.8 percent), gas (plus 98.6) and heating oil (plus 74.8).
Compared to September, the consumer price index rose again by 1.2 percent: Household energies in particular rose in price (plus 8.5 percent). According to the statisticians, these include gas (including operating costs plus 15.1) and various types of vegetables. Tomatoes, for example, have become 40.8 percent more expensive. The price increase for lettuce and iceberg lettuce was more moderate (2.8 percent). Individual types of vegetables such as cucumbers (minus 7.3 percent) and peppers (minus 1.6 percent) have become cheaper, and the prices for apples (minus 2.5 percent) and petrol (minus 0.3 percent) have also fallen.
Compared to October 2021, other foods such as dairy products became much more expensive: Quark, for example, increased by 62.9 percent and butter by 54.5 percent.
According to IT.NRW, the reduction in sales tax from 19 to 7 percent for gas and district heating was taken into account when recording prices.
