Tokyo, Sept. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s core consumer price index rose 1.7 pct from a year before in August, posting a smaller increase for the first time in four months, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The core CPI, excluding often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 102.0 against 100 for the base year of 2025, up for 60 consecutive months. The growth rate stood below 2 pct for the eighth straight month. A wide range of food prices climbed amid rising raw material costs, while rice prices plummeted. Electricity costs dropped thanks to a resumption of government subsidies. Food prices excluding fresh food grew 2.7 pct, against a 3 pct increase the previous month, slowing down for the 13th consecutive month. Confectionery, ready meal, dining-out costs went up. Rice prices, which marked a historic rise last year, slumped 15.7 pct. Energy prices slid 0.7 pct after the previous month’s 0.6 pct rise. The fall in electricity costs widened to 2.4 pct from 0.1 pct, while municipal gas charges saw their decline narrow to 0.8 pct from 1.1 pct. Prices of gasoline, subsidized by the government, declined 2.6 pct, bigger than the previous month’s 1.8 pct fall. Laundry detergent prices and exterior wall painting costs rose due to higher material costs. The overall CPI, including fresh food prices, and the index excluding fresh food and energy prices each grew 1.9 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
