Japan's food prices increased 3.5% year-on-year in May 2026, matching April's pace and remaining at their slowest pace since October 2024. Costs continued to rise for fish and seafood (5.5% vs 5.8% in April), meat (3.5% vs 4.4%), dairy products and eggs (3.6% vs 4.9%), oils, fats, and seasonings (3.9% vs 4.2%), cakes and candies (8.1% vs 7.7%), prepared foods (4.4% vs 4.8%), beverages (8.7% vs 9.4%), alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.9%), and meals eaten out (1.0% vs 1.1%). At the same time, fresh vegetable prices rebounded after five consecutive months of declines (3.8% vs -2.2%), while cereal prices fell for the first time since December 2021 (-0.9% vs 1.2%) and fresh fruit prices stayed in deflation (-1.6% vs -3.6%). Among staple foods, rice prices declined 4.9% from a year earlier, marking their first annual drop since November 2022. source: Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications

Cost of food in Japan increased 3.50 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in Japan averaged 2.83 percent from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 31.60 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -3.70 percent in November of 1999. This page provides the latest reported value for - Japan Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Japan Food Inflation - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on July of 2026.

Cost of food in Japan increased 3.50 percent in May of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in Japan is expected to be 3.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Food Inflation is projected to trend around 2.20 percent in 2027 and 2.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI Clothes and Footwear 113.40 113.30 points May 2026
Inflation Rate Ex-Food and Energy YoY 1.80 1.90 percent May 2026
CPI Education 89.80 89.90 points May 2026
CPI Food 128.70 128.40 points May 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 104.90 104.70 points May 2026
CPI Recreation and Culture 118.00 117.40 points May 2026
CPI Transportation and Communication 101.50 101.30 points May 2026
Food Inflation 3.50 3.50 percent May 2026
Goods Inflation 2.00 1.70 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 1.50 1.40 percent May 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.40 0.10 percent May 2026
Rent Inflation 0.40 0.40 percent May 2026
Services Inflation 1.00 0.90 percent May 2026
Tokyo Core CPI YoY 1.60 1.30 percent Jun 2026
Tokyo CPI YoY 1.70 1.40 percent Jun 2026
Tokyo CPI Ex Food and Energy YoY 1.90 1.60 percent Jun 2026


Japan Food Inflation
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.50 3.50 31.60 -3.70 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Food Inflation Holds at 18-Month Low
Japan's food prices increased 3.5% year-on-year in May 2026, matching April's pace and remaining at their slowest pace since October 2024. Costs continued to rise for fish and seafood (5.5% vs 5.8% in April), meat (3.5% vs 4.4%), dairy products and eggs (3.6% vs 4.9%), oils, fats, and seasonings (3.9% vs 4.2%), cakes and candies (8.1% vs 7.7%), prepared foods (4.4% vs 4.8%), beverages (8.7% vs 9.4%), alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.9%), and meals eaten out (1.0% vs 1.1%). At the same time, fresh vegetable prices rebounded after five consecutive months of declines (3.8% vs -2.2%), while cereal prices fell for the first time since December 2021 (-0.9% vs 1.2%) and fresh fruit prices stayed in deflation (-1.6% vs -3.6%). Among staple foods, rice prices declined 4.9% from a year earlier, marking their first annual drop since November 2022.
2026-06-19
Japan Food Prices Rise the Least in 18 Months
Food prices in Japan increased 3.5% year-on-year in April 2026, following a 3.6% gain in the previous month and marking the mildest pace since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (1.2% vs 3.5% in March), dairy products and eggs (4.9% vs 5.4%), cakes and candies (7.7% vs 8.1%), prepared foods (4.3% vs 5.2%), beverages (9.4% vs 9.6%), alcoholic beverages (0.9% vs 5.1%), and meals eaten out (1.1% vs 3.9%). Among staples, rice prices increased 0.6% from a year earlier, sharply slowing from a 6.8% rise in March and marking the slowest gain since a decline in November 2022. At the same time, prices continued to decline for fresh vegetables (-12.2% vs -10.5%) and fresh fruit (-3.6% vs -7.4%). In contrast, inflation held steady for fish and seafood (at 5.8% vs 5.8%) while quickening for meats (4.4% vs 3.8%) and oils, fats, and seasonings (4.2% vs 4.0%).
2026-05-21
Japan Food Prices Rise the Least in 17 Months
Food prices in Japan increased 3.6% year-on-year in March 2026, slowing from a 4.0% gain in the prior month and marking the mildest pace since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (3.5% vs 7.3% vs in February), fish and seafood (5.8% vs 7.2%), dairy products and eggs (5.4% vs 7.5%), and oils, fats, and seasonings (4.0% vs 5.3%). Among staples, rice prices increased 6.8% from a year earlier, sharply slowing from a 17.1% rise in February and marking the slowest gain since February 2024, following efforts by Tokyo to ease persistent upward pressure seen last year. At the same time, prices continued to decline for fresh vegetables (-10.5% vs -9.0%) and fresh fruit (-7.4% vs -10.7%). In contrast, inflation held steady for cakes and candies (8.1% vs 8.1%), while accelerating for meats (3.8% vs 3.7%), prepared foods (5.2% vs 4.9%), beverages (9.8% vs 9.1%), alcoholic beverages (5.1% vs 5.0%), and meals eaten out (3.9% vs 3.7%).
2026-04-23