The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), reported today that the index of producer prices for industrial products (domestic sales) for Germany was up 3.3% in January 2008 from the corresponding month of the preceding year.

In December and November 2007, the annual rate of change was each with +2.5%, respectively. Compared with the preceding month, the index rose by 0.8% in January 2008.

The rise in the price index in the Eurozone

2007: Value of orders received in building industry up 3.5%

Destatis reported that the total price-adjusted value of orders received by building construction and civil and underground engineering enterprises in Germany increased 3.5% in 2007. In building construction it rose 0.6%, in civil and underground engineering it increased 6.6%.
 
The average number of employees amounted to 714,000 in the year 2007. That was an increase of 3,000 (+0.5%) compared with 2006.There were 282,000 employed in the building sector in Ireland in December 2006.

Turnover tax statistics in 2006: 419 turnover billionaires in Germany

Destatis also reported that on the basis of turnover tax statistics 419 businesses – 35 more than in 2005 – achieved a turnover of €1 billion or more.
 
All together, more than 3 million businesses in Germany filed advance turnover tax returns in 2006. Compared with 2005, the number of businesses covered rose by 60,000 tax subjects or 2.1%. The value of deliveries and other performances (turnover) of all businesses was €4,930 billion, which was an increase by €363 billion (+7.9%) compared with 2005.