JAPAN TIMES



 

Japan's average rice price hit a new record high since statistics began in March 2022, following a small decline, according to agriculture ministry data.

In the week ended last Sunday, the average price of rice sold at about 1,000 supermarkets across Japan rose by ¥93 from the previous week to ¥4,416 per 5 kilograms, the data released by the ministry Friday showed.

The average price fell by ¥14 to ¥4,323 in the week ended Dec. 28 last year.
In the latest reporting week, the price of "brand rice," primarily newly harvested rice, grew by ¥21 to ¥4,516. Brand rice accounted for 74% of total rice sales, up 2 percentage points.

The price of relatively cheap blended rice climbed by ¥261, with the share of blended rice falling to 26%.

A separate survey of about 1,200 supermarkets showed that the average rice price went up ¥291 to ¥4,176.