Tokyo, Oct. 2 (Jiji Press)–Core consumer prices in central Tokyo in September rose 2.7 pct from a year before, up for the 61st consecutive month, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The core consumer price index for Tokyo’s densely populated 23 special wards, which excludes often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 102.6 against the 2025 base of 100. The size of growth expanded for the fourth straight month. The year-on-year rate stood at 2 pct or higher for the first time in eight months. Prices for food excluding fresh food items rose 3.6 pct, following soaring material prices that reflected the Middle East situation. Those for precooked food items and coffee beans went up. Prices for household consumables including detergent climbed 10.6 pct. Accommodations costs rose 4.6 pct, pushed up by an increase in travelers during a string of holidays in late September. The effect of a Tokyo metropolitan government program to make child care services effectively free of charge for the first child, which began in September last year, has run its course. In addition, the metropolitan government terminated its program to entirely cover the basic monthly water fees to help households hurt by persisting inflation. As a result, water service charges soared 65.6 pct. Energy prices fell 1.9 pct as a central government subsidy program to cut electricity and gas bills continues. The overall CPI including fresh food prices rose 2.7 pct, and the index excluding fresh food and energy prices advanced 3.0 pct. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
