Tokyo Core Consumer Prices Up 1.3 Pct in May

Tokyo, May 29 (Jiji Press)–The core consumer price index for central Tokyo in May advanced 1.3 pct from a year before, up for the 57th straight month, internal affairs ministry data showed Friday. The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 112.0 against the 2020 base of 100. The pace of rise shrank for the sixth consecutive month due to a metropolitan government program to make the basic water charges free and the first fall in rice prices in 45 months. Food prices excluding fresh food rose 4.1 pct after a 4.6 pct increase in April. Rice prices, down 1.1 pct, fell back after the previous month’s 3.6 pct rise. Electricity bills dropped 2.7 pct, and city gas costs slid 4.9 pct, marking smaller declines than the previous month’s 3.0 pct and 6.0 pct, respectively, after central government subsidies to cut energy costs expired at the end of March. Water bills plunged 34.6 pct as the metropolitan government’s water fee cut program began in May. The overall CPI, including fresh food, rose 1.4 pct. The index excluding fresh food and energy prices was up 1.6 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]