Japanese consumers in January - April 2025 will face an increase in the prices of over 6,000 types of food products by an average of 18%. This follows from a report by the Teikoku Databank statistical center.
According to its estimate, in January alone, the prices of 1,380 items, mostly bread, will increase. This is the highest figure for the entire period of maintaining such statistics since 2022. By April, the total number of food products that will increase will be 6,121, with the average rate of increase in price being 18%.
The main reasons are considered to be an increase in the prices of raw materials, as well as services related to the production process and delivery to store shelves, primarily logistics. Another factor is the weakening of the yen against the dollar, which is leading to a significant increase in the prices of imported goods and raw materials.
The average rate of price growth will slightly exceed the figure for 2024, which is fixed at 17%. In 2024, experts have calculated an increase in the price of 12,520 types of food products, while in 2023 prices increased by 32,396 items.
At the same time, core inflation in Japan for 11 months of 2024 did not exceed 2.8%. This key indicator, which the Bank of Japan uses to set inflation targets, does not include the price of perishable goods.
According to public opinion polls, the vast majority of Japanese people demand that the government first take action against rising consumer prices. As shown by the results of a national public opinion poll published in December, conducted by the country's Cabinet of Ministers, 66% of the participants would like the government to take "measures against rising prices", 64% would like to strengthen the system of social support for the population, 58% would like to intensify work to improve the economic situation in the country.