Japan Food Inflation

Food prices in Japan rose by 7.4% year-on-year in March 2025, slowing slightly from a 7.6% increase in the previous month and marking the softest pace since December. The slight moderation came despite a historic surge in rice prices, the nation’s staple food, which jumped 92.1%—the sharpest rise since 1971, following inadequate harvests, soaring demand from a record-breaking tourist numbers, and stockpiling spurred by a quake warning. Price growth softened notably for fresh vegetables (22.1% vs 28.0%), fresh fruits (10.2% vs 20.8%), meats (5.1% vs 5.2%), and beverages (6.2% vs 6.6%), while alcoholic beverage prices continued to decline (-0.4% vs -0.2%). Meanwhile, inflation accelerated for cereals (25.4% vs 21.9%), fish and seafood (4.0% vs 3.4%), dairy products and eggs (2.0% vs 0.4%), oils and seasonings (0.7% vs 0.3%), cakes and candies (6.9% vs 6.8%), prepared foods (4.6% vs 4.2%), and meals outside the home (3.6% vs 3.2%).