Oktoberfest leaves financial hangover

The price of beer at Munich's Oktoberfest will rise by nearly 2.5 per cent this year – but the annual increase is less frothy than in 2009.

The traditional two-pint (one-litre) mug, or Mass, will set revellers back an average €8.65 (£7.30). Last year, the average was €8.44. The year-on-year rise in 2009 was 31 cents, or nearly 4 per cent.

This year's festival runs from 18 September to 4 October.

German inflation has been low recently – in April it was running at 1 per cent. City authorities did not say why the price increase was higher than inflation.