Consumer prices in Germany rose by 3.1% in 2021, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Statistical Office on Thursday.
It is the highest inflation rate since 1993.
Rising energy costs and supply bottlenecks largely drove the surge in the cost of living.
In 2020, Germany’s average inflation was still relatively low at 0.5%. By December 2021, the year-on-year increase in prices stood at 5.3%.
It was the second time since reunification that German inflation had topped the 5% mark, after coming in at 5.2% in November.