Nearly five thousand Japanese food items face price hikes in September

According to a Teikoku Databank survey covering 195 major food manufacturers, 4,923 food and beverage items in Japan are set to increase in price in September, marking the most items with hikes in a single month since April 2023. The jump reflects higher crude oil and naphtha prices driven by the Middle East crisis, which in turn lifted packaging material costs. Companies also cite rising personnel and logistics expenses, as well as higher import prices due to a depreciating yen.

Although some convenience store chains intend to lower prices on certain rice ball products, the spokesperson said widespread cuts are improbable. For the full year, the number of items with price rises is expected to exceed last year's total of 20,609, with over 3,000 items projected to rise in October. Seasonings, such as soy sauce and vinegar, lead the list with 1,959 items, followed by processed foods like frozen meals.