Japan Food Prices Rise the Least in 15 Months

Food prices in Japan increased by 3.9% year-on-year in January 2026, slowing from a 5.1% gain in the previous month and marking the slowest rise since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (12.0% vs 14.7% in December), meats (3.8% vs 4.7%), dairy products and eggs (7.4% vs 7.8%), cakes and candies (8.2% vs 8.6%), meals eaten out (3.9% vs 4.0%), and prepared foods (5.0% vs 5.7%). At the same time, prices fell much steeper for fresh vegetables (-14.0% vs -7.1%) and fresh fruit (-10.4% vs -5.8%). Among staples, rice prices increased 27.9% from a year earlier, slowing from a 34.4% rise in December and posting the slowest increase in 18 months amid continued efforts from Tokyo to cool persistent upward pressure on staple food costs. Simultaneously, inflation accelerated for fish and seafood (7.9% vs 6.6%), oils, fats, and seasonings (4.8% vs 4.5%), beverages (7.8% vs 7.7%), and alcoholic beverages (4.9% vs 4.7%).

Food prices in Japan increased by 5.1% year-on-year in December 2025, slowing from a 6.1% gain in the previous month and marking the slowest rise since November 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (14.7% vs 15.8% in November), beverages (7.7% vs 8.4%), cakes and candies (8.6% vs 8.8%), meals eaten out (4.0% vs 4.2%), and prepared foods (5.7% vs 6.3%). At the same time, prices of fresh vegetables fell for the first time in six months (-7.1% vs 1.2%). Among staples, rice prices increased 34.4% from a year earlier, slowing from a 37.1% rise in November and posting the slowest increase in 16 months amid Tokyo’s ongoing efforts to ease persistent upward pressure on staple food costs. Simultaneously, fresh fruit prices fell further (-5.8% vs -3.5%). In contrast, inflation accelerated for dairy products and eggs (7.8% vs 7.7%), oils, fats, and seasonings (4.5% vs 4.2%), meat (4.7% vs 4.3%), fish and seafood (6.6% vs 5.8%), and alcoholic beverages (4.7% vs. 4.9%).

Food prices in Japan increased by 6.1% year-on-year in November 2025, slowing from a 6.4% gain in the previous month and marking the softest rise since November 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (15.8% vs 16.8% in October), fresh vegetables (1.2% vs 0.7%), dairy products and eggs (7.7% vs 7.8%), oils, fats, and seasonings (4.2% vs 4.4%), beverages (8.4% vs 8.7%), cakes and candies (8.8% vs 9.5%), meals eaten out (4.2% vs 4.3%), and prepared foods (6.3% vs 6.5%). Among staples, rice prices increased 37.1% year-on-year, slowing from a 40.2% rise in October and posting the slowest increase in 15 months amid Tokyo’s ongoing efforts to mitigate persistent upward pressure on staple food costs. Simultaneously, fresh fruit prices fell (-3.5% vs 2.2%). In contrast, inflation accelerated for meat (4.3% vs. 3.7%), fish and seafood (5.8% vs. 4.8%), and alcoholic beverages (4.8% vs. 4.6%).