German consumer prices posted an unexpected rise in August, data released today showed, as energy costs gained ground this month, dpa reported. Inflation in Europe's biggest economy edged up to a year-on-year rate of zero this month from minus 0.5 per cent in July, according to the statistics office's preliminary data, which was based on the results of six German states showed. Using the harmonized European method, German inflation also rose to zero from minus 0.7 per cent in July. Analysts had expected a rise to minus 0.4 per cent. On a month-by-month basis consumer prices increased by 0.2 per cent in August, as a result helping to allay fears that Europe could be facing a protracted period of deflation.
