BERLIN, July 13 (Xinhua) -- German consumer prices rose by an average of 1.6 percent in June, the Federal Office for Statistics revealed on Thursday.
The figure compared to inflation rate increases of 1.5 percent in May and 2 percent in April.
Price rises were primarily driven by foodstuffs, which were 2.8 percent more expensive compared to June 2016. Milk products experienced the steepest increase in cost, with butter prices rising by 59.9 percent year on year.
The relatively stable cost of energy continued to exert downward pressure on the inflation rate. Fuel was 0.2 percent more expensive compared to 2016. Electricity prices rose by 1.5 percent, while prices for gas fell by 3.2 percent.
The European Central Bank defines its overall inflation goal to ensure price stability as "below, but close to 2 percent".
