Tokyo’s consumer inflation this month has hit its highest level in two years. The surging cost of rice is a major factor.
The internal affairs ministry says the consumer price index for the capital rose a preliminary 3.4 percent compared to a year earlier. That’s up 1 percentage point from March.
The figure excludes fresh food, whose prices tend to fluctuate based on the weather.
The price of rice surged 93.8 percent, the biggest jump since comparable data became available in 1971.
It also marks the seventh-straight month of record-setting price growth for the staple crop.
The inflation filtered through to items made from rice. Onigiri rice balls jumped 15.8 percent, and restaurant sushi 8.3 percent.
Bird-flu outbreaks across Japan pushed up egg prices 7.1 percent.
Strong inflation was also seen in energy bills, due to a reduction in government subsidies. Households paid 13.1 percent more for their power. City gas was up 4.8 percent.
Tokyo prices are considered a leading indicator of nationwide inflation. The country’s CPI figures will be released on May 23.
AloJapan.com