On a monthly basis German prices rose 0.9 percent, after easing 0.1 percent in November. Monthly increases in the cost of food and package holidays drove December's rise.

Consumer prices harmonised to compare with other European Union countries showed a monthly rise of 1.0 percent and an annual rise of 2.1 percent.

The Statistics Office's preliminary inflation calculations are based on data contributed by six German states.

Center>Copyright Reuters, 2013