German inflation rate lowest since reunification

German consumer prices rose 0.4 percent in 2009, the slowest annual inflation rate since German reunification in 1990, the Federal Statistics Office said Thursday.

The agency said inflation was pulled down by price decreases for mineral oil products and food.

In December, inflation was up 0.9 percent over the same month the previous year and 0.8 percent over November, the office said. The increase in the month was driven by increased energy prices and higher rates for accommodation, package holidays and air travel.

The numbers matched previously released estimates.

For the year, mineral oil product prices were down 15.8 percent from 2008. Food prices decreased by an overall 1.3 percent, driven partially by a drop in the price in dairy products, including a 17.3 percent drop in milk prices.