Japan's Core Consumer Prices Rise 3.5 Pct in April
Tokyo, May 23 (Jiji Press)--Japan's core consumer price index rose 3.5 pct in April from a year before, marking the steepest increase in two years and three months amid soaring prices for rice and other food products, government data showed Friday.
The core CPI, which excludes often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 110.9 against the 2020 base of 100, growing for the 44th straight month, the internal affairs ministry said.
Rice prices surged 98.4 pct, logging the seventh consecutive month of the steepest increase on record.
Food prices excluding fresh items jumped 7.0 pct, up for the ninth successive month.
Although the Japanese government has started releasing stockpiled rice, its effect to curb retail rice prices did not spread sufficiently. Prices for "onigiri" rice balls grew 18.1 pct, and sushi prices rose 5.0 pct. Among other food items, chocolate prices soared 31.0 pct, and prices for coffee beans jumped 24.8 pct.
(2025/05/23-13:23)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATIONAL
-
05/23 21:54 Japan Proposes Shipbuilding Cooperation with U.S. - 05/23 21:36 (Update) Japan to Curb Stockpiled Rice Prices
- 05/23 20:42 Japan Eyes Measures to Cut Electricity, Gas Bills by 1,000 Yen
- 05/23 20:08 Taiwan Lifts Age Limit for Japanese Beef Imports
-
05/23 18:58 (Update) Japan, U.S. Agree to Cooperate on Economic Security - 05/23 18:26 NTT Drone Triggers, Guides Lightning
- 05/23 17:55 Japan to Facilitate Deportations of Undocumented Foreigners
- 05/23 17:31 Ex-Boyfriend Charged over Kawasaki Stalking
- 05/23 17:11 U.S. Envoy Glass Visits Osaka Expo
- 05/23 16:36 Giant Pandas at Western Japan Zoo to Be Sent to China June 28
- 05/23 16:13 Japanese Princess Aiko to Visit Laos in Nov.
- 05/23 16:03 Govt Eyes Reuse of Fukushima Soil at PM's Office
- 05/23 15:45 Japan's Koizumi Vows to Lower Rice Prices below 3,000 Yen
- 05/23 15:37 Ishiba, Trump Discuss Economic Security Cooperation in Phone Call
- 05/23 14:36 Ishiba, Guterres Agree to Deepen Japan-U.N. Cooperation
- 05/23 14:16 Japan to Work to Reduce Impact on Japanese Students at Harvard
- 05/23 14:14 Japan Prefectures Mulling Charging Fees for Mt. Fuji Rescues
- 05/23 13:40 98 Pct of New Grads in Japan Land Jobs
- 05/23 13:23 Japan's Core Consumer Prices Rise 3.5 Pct in April
- 05/23 13:02 Tokyo's Yamanote Line Suspended Due to Wire Trouble
- 05/23 11:41 BOJ to Closely Monitor Bond Market Situation: Ueda
- 05/23 11:33 7 "JP Dragon" Crime Ring Members Detained in Philippines
- 05/23 10:26 G-7 Finance Chiefs Recognize "Elevated Uncertainty" in Statement
- 05/23 08:30 5 Years On, Defamation Still Pesters Reality Show Performers
- 05/22 22:51 Chiba to Open New Ballpark in 2034
- 05/22 22:18 Japanese Emperor, Empress Host Dutch King for Dinner
- 05/22 22:07 ASDF Confirms 2 Members Dead after Plane Crash in Aichi
- 05/22 21:52 Japan Proposes Mutual Recognition of Auto Standards with U.S.
- 05/22 21:20 (Update) Norinchukin Bank Suffers Record Annual Net Loss
- 05/22 20:37 Big Japan Firms Raise Pay by 5.38 Pct
- 05/22 19:29 Fuji TV Panel Defends Recognition of Sexual Violence by Nakai
- 05/22 18:45 64 Pct OK Female Members to Retain Imperial Status: Jiji Poll
- 05/22 18:27 Japanese Emperor Meets with Austrian President
- 05/22 18:01 Ex-Senior Prosecutor Sought to Cover Up Sexual Assault, Victim Says
- 05/22 17:05 Yokozuna Hoshoryu Aims to Get Japanese Citizenship
- 05/22 16:48 (Update) Ishiba Cabinet Approval Falls to 20.9 Pct: Jiji Poll
- 05/22 16:05 Japan to Tighten Rules for Switching Foreign Driver's Licenses
- 05/22 16:04 Japan Lodges Protests after Israel Fires Shots at Diplomats
- 05/22 15:47 Register of Hiroshima A-Bomb Victims Given Airing
- 05/22 15:37 Japanese, Austrian Leaders Discuss Economy
- 05/22 15:08 Ishiba Cabinet Approval Falls to 20.9 Pct: Jiji Poll
- 05/22 14:43 Japan Core Machinery Orders Up 13.0 Pct in March
- 05/22 13:34 Japan Police to Launch Team Targeting "Tokuryu" Masterminds
- 05/22 13:08 Japan Real Wages Fall for 3rd Straight Year in FY 2024
- 05/22 12:41 (Update) Exchange Rate Levels Not Discussed in Kato-Bessent Talks
- 05/22 11:52 Israeli Troops Fire Warning Shots at Foreign Diplomats
- 05/22 09:07 Exchange Rate Levels Not Discussed in Kato-Bessent Talks
- 05/21 22:04 Japan, Paraguay to Upgrade Ties to Strategic Partnership
- 05/21 21:27 (Update) Koizumi Vows to Stabilize Rice Prices
- 05/21 21:21 Ishiba Eyes Different Way to Release Stockpiled Rice
- 05/21 20:23 Japan, South Korea to Establish Priority Immigration Lanes
- 05/21 18:57 (Update) Visitors to Japan Hit Single-Month Record High in April
- 05/21 18:51 Over 270 Candidates to Run in Tokyo Assembly Election
- 05/21 18:41 Koizumi Vows to Be "Rice Minister"
- 05/21 16:55 Number of Visitors to Japan Hits Record High in April
- 05/21 16:54 Japan Enacts Revised NTT Law
- 05/21 16:06 Japanese Emperor Meets with Hungarian Pres.
- 05/21 15:38 Japan, U.S. May Hold 3rd Round of Tariff Talks as Early as Sat.
- 05/21 15:17 Japanese Author Kawakami Misses Out on Int'l Booker Prize
- 05/21 14:02 Hiroshima Schoolgirl Arrested after Slashing Fellow Students
- 05/21 14:00 (Update 2) Japan Agriculture Minister Eto Dismissed over Rice Gaffe
- 05/21 13:39 Japan, ASEAN Confirm Support for Free Trade
- 05/21 13:15 Member Lists of Ex-Imperial Japan Biowarfare Units Disclosed
- 05/21 12:41 Japan's Exports to U.S. Dip for 1st Time in 4 Months in April
- 05/21 10:54 (Update) Japan Agriculture Minister Eto Dismissed over Rice Gaffe
- 05/21 09:09 Japan Agriculture Minister Eto Dismissed over Rice Gaffe
- 05/20 22:15 Japan Opposition Parties to Demand Agriculture Minister's Dismissal
- 05/20 21:42 Ishiba, New German Leader Agree to Boost Economic Ties
- 05/20 20:54 (Update) Japan's Parliament Starts Deliberations on Pension Reform
- 05/20 19:50 Japan Enacts Bill to Tighten Penalties on Host Bars
- 05/20 19:45 Dead Sri Lankan Woman's Family Demands Full Disclosure of Footage
- 05/20 18:47 (Update 2) Tokyo to Waive Basic Water Fees for Summer
- 05/20 18:25 Paraguayan Pres. Lays Flowers for Hiroshima A-Bomb Victims
- 05/20 18:11 Most Rice Released by Govt Not Yet Available to Consumers
- 05/20 17:51 Japan's Parliament Starts Deliberations on Pension Reform
- 05/20 17:30 (Update) Tokyo to Waive Basic Water Fees for Summer
- 05/20 17:18 Ishiba Apologizes over LDP Member's Remark on WWII Exhibits
- 05/20 16:17 Tokyo Eyes Plan to Waive Basic Water Fees for Summer
- 05/20 16:10 Japan in Working-Level Talks with U.S. over Trump Tariffs
- 05/20 15:37 Japan, U.S. Finance Ministers to Hold Talks Again
- 05/20 15:27 Japan Opposes Expanded Military Operations in Gaza: Spokesman
- 05/20 14:18 Nissan Eyeing 1st Massive Restructuring since Ghosn Era
- 05/20 14:14 Japan Hopes for Ukraine Breakthrough after U.S.-Russia Talks
- 05/20 13:46 Japan Halts Some Brazil Chicken Imports after Bird Flu Outbreak
- 05/20 13:40 Japan FTC to Warn NPB over Fuji TV Press Pass Denial
- 05/20 12:44 Japan PM Ishiba Declines to Sack Agriculture Min. over Gaffe
- 05/20 12:27 8 Universities Apply for Japan's World-Class Research Grants
- 05/20 12:12 Peruvian Man Arrested over Shin-Meishin Expressway Accident
- 05/20 12:03 Japanese, German Foreign Ministers Have Phone Talks
- 05/20 09:43 Japan, U.S. to Hold Trade Talks This Week
- 05/19 22:51 Japanese Emperor Meets Latvian, Bulgarian Presidents
- 05/19 22:32 Japan, Latvia Confirm Continued Support for Ukraine
- 05/19 22:13 (Update) Japan Agriculture Minister Retracts Gaffe on Rice
- 05/19 20:51 Tsuruga Nuclear Reactor Decommissioning Completion Postponed
- 05/19 20:20 (Update) Japan Retail Rice Price Hits Record High Again
- 05/19 19:55 Princess Aiko Meets with People in Quake-Hit Central Japan
- 05/19 19:27 Japan Agriculture Min. Corrects Gaffe on Rice
- 05/19 18:14 Japan's Emperor, Empress to Visit Hiroshima in June
- 05/19 17:58 Japan Retail Rice Price Hits Record High Again
- 05/19 17:57 Ex-Emperor Visits Imperial Palace Lab after Heart Check
- 05/19 17:41 Osaka Expo to Use Electric Bus as Visitors' Rest Area
- 05/19 16:24 Ishiba Asks for Time to Get Conclusion on Basic Pension Hike
- 05/19 15:16 BIE Head Suggests Later Osaka Expo Close Time
- 05/19 13:49 Nippon Ishin Submits Bill to Give Legal Validity to Maiden Names
- 05/19 12:35 Pterosaur Fossil Found in Japan Identified as New Species
- 05/19 10:31 Ishiba Mourns Death of Uruguay's Ex-Pres. Jose Mujica
- 05/19 08:30 Noto Municipalities Struggle with Quake-Damaged Vacant Houses
- 05/18 22:24 Ishiba to Revamp Strategy to Industrialize Quantum Tech
- 05/18 21:48 (Update) Chinese Man Arrested in Hit-and-Run Case in Saitama
- 05/18 21:06 (Update) Princess Aiko Inspects Reconstruction after Noto Quake
- 05/18 16:17 Chinese Man Arrested in Hit-and-Run Case in Saitama
- 05/18 09:00 Japan Working to Improve Treatment of "Culinary Diplomats"
- 05/17 20:47 Ainu Dances Performed at Osaka Expo
- 05/17 19:25 Trial of Shinzo Abe's Assassin May Begin in Oct.
- 05/17 19:07 Man Rearrested for Alleged Murder after Body Found on Miyagi Coast
- 05/17 18:30 Hiroshima, Nagasaki Take Different Approaches on Taiwan
- 05/17 17:46 Wholesalers May Be behind Elevated Retail Rice Prices
- 05/17 16:53 (Update) 1 Dead after Possible Gas Leak at ENEOS Refinery
- 05/17 16:34 Iwate Wildfire Victims Begin Moving into Temporary Housing
- 05/17 14:04 Japan, U.S. Officials Reaffirm Security Cooperation
- 05/17 13:03 2 in Critical Condition after Possible Gas Leak at ENEOS Refinery
- 05/17 10:00 1,400 Photos Donated to Remember Horror of Aum Shinrikyo
- 05/17 09:00 Japanese Man Dribbles Soccer Ball 2,000 km across India
