BERLIN, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Germany's import prices climbed 0.4 percent in November compared with October, German Federal Statistics Office said on Wednesday, adding to the signs of a modest outlook for inflation in Europe's biggest economy.

    Compared with a year ago, however, the import prices dropped by 5.0 percent in November, said the Wiesbaden-based office, adding that the index of import prices, excluding crude oil and mineral oil products, was 6.9 percent below the level of a year earlier.

    In November 2008, Germany's import prices were down 0.7 percent on a monthly basis as a sharp downturn took hold across the world economy.

    Local analysts had forecast Germany's monthly import prices would dip to 0.3 percent, while compared with November last year the index had been expected to come in at minus 5.2 percent.

    According to the statistics office, Germany's export prices slightly rose 0.1 percent in November compared with October, while on the annual basis, the export prices fell 1.7 percent in November.