The German consumer price index increased by 1.5 percent in February compared to a year earlier, official data showed on Tuesday.

The German Federal Statistical Office said in a statement that the inflation rate of the largest European economy, measured by consumer price index, was the lowest since December 2010, and was mainly driven by rises of energy and food prices.

Energy prices were up 3.6 percent compared to a year earlier, and food prices rose by 3.1 percent. Not considering these two prices, the inflation rate in February 2013 would have been 1.1 percent.

Compared with January, the consumer price index increased by 0.6 percent. Measured as a harmonized index of consumer prices, the inflation yardstick for the eurozone, inflation in Germany rose by 1.8 percent in February, below the 2-percent target of the European Central Bank's (ECB) medium-term monetary policy.

Eurozone inflation fell below 2 percent in February. Earlier this month, the ECB announced it would maintain its interest rate at 0.75 percent to contain inflation pressure.