Germany's consumer price index rose by 2.1 percent in February 2006 compared with the same month last year and 0.4 percent from January, the Federal Statistics Office announced Friday.

The hike was still characterized, since April 2004, by the continuing price increases for mineral oil products: Not considering heating oil and motor fuels.

In February 2006, motor fuel prices were up 13.3 percent from the same month in 2005 and domestic fuel prices increased 33.3 percent.

Prices of other household energy sources increased above average with electricity up 4.0 percent, gas up 19.1 percent and charges for central and remote heating up 22.0 percent.

The statistics also show that the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose an average 1.1 percent from a year earlier. Prices were up in particular for fruit by 3.7 percent.

However, prices of dairy products and eggs were down 0.7 percent.

Source: Xinhua