The German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) today confirmed that inflation continues to ease, with the consumer price index (CPI) increasing by 2.1% in April 2025 compared to the same month last year. Notably, the price of furniture and household furnishings remained virtually stable, offering relief to consumers focused on home and interior purchases.
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'The inflation rate in Germany, measured as the year-on-year change in the consumer price index (CPI), stood at +2.1% in April 2025,' Destatis reported. This marks a slight drop from +2.2% in March and +2.3% in both January and February 2025, confirming a trend of moderate inflation decline.
While much of the inflation deceleration is attributed to lower energy prices—with a significant 5.4% drop from April 2024—certain sectors such as services (+3.9%) and food (+2.8%) still recorded notable price increases. Despite this, durable consumer goods, including furniture, lighting equipment, and household appliances, showed remarkable price stability. The category saw a marginal decrease of 0.3% year-on-year and only a 0.1% uptick from March, indicating minimal inflationary pressure on home-related goods.
This comes as welcome news for homeowners, renters, and interior design enthusiasts, especially in the context of rising costs across other service sectors such as healthcare, insurance, and transport. Consumers have been particularly strained in areas like airfare (+19.1%) and holiday packages (+9.2%), where prices have surged well above the national inflation average.
Despite the broader inflationary environment, 'net rents exclusive of heating expenses (+2.1%) continued to be a significant factor contributing to the development of service prices,' Destatis noted. However, furniture buyers have reason for optimism, as household fittings have remained immune to the sharp hikes affecting other categories.
Core inflation—excluding food and energy—stood at 2.9%, indicating that underlying price pressures persist. However, this figure has largely been driven by services rather than goods. For goods overall, inflation was a modest 0.5% year-on-year.
On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.4% in April compared to March, driven by seasonal spikes in items such as fresh vegetables (+3.0%) and air travel (+21.0%). Meanwhile, energy continued its downward trend, becoming 0.6% cheaper month-on-month.
The stability in the furniture and homeware sector stands in contrast to volatility elsewhere, providing a haven for consumers focused on lifestyle and domestic comfort. As households continue to prioritise value and long-term investments in their living spaces, this sector's resilience bodes well for both consumers and the broader home design market.
More information:
Destatis
www.destatis.de