Free Republic

BERLIN, March 21 (Reuters) - German producer prices maintained their record-breaking rise in February, increasing 25.9% year on year mainly because of energy prices, Federal Statistics Office data showed on Monday. The jump in factory gate costs, considered a leading indicator for consumer prices, was the biggest since 1949, the statistics office said. February's producer prices did not take into account the effects of Russia's attack on Ukraine. Energy prices were up 68% from February 2021, the statistics office said. Stripping out energy prices, producer prices rose 12.4% year on year.