[B]Producer prices in Germany fell 1.2% in January, following a 0.8% drop in the previous month, which lowered the annualized reading for price growth to 2.0% from a revised reading of 4.0% in December. Falling commodity prices paired with the economic downturn in the region have helped to lower input prices for the fourth consecutive month, and as price pressures continue to alleviate, mounting risks for deflation could lead the European Central Bank to ease policy further in the months ahead as policy makers maintain a 2% target for inflation. [/B]