TOKYO, Jul 19 (News On Japan) - Japan's nationwide consumer price index (CPI) for June, which measures the price movement of goods and services consumed at home, rose by 2.6%.
The increase rate has expanded for two consecutive months, influenced by the reduction of the government's electricity and gas subsidies by half.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the nationwide CPI for June, excluding fresh food with large price fluctuations, stood at 107.8, a 2.6% increase compared to June last year.
The rate of increase rose by 0.1 points from the previous month, marking the second consecutive month of expansion.
The main factors include a significant 13.4% rise in electricity costs due to the government's electricity and gas subsidies being halved from the June billing cycle.
Additionally, food prices continued to rise against the backdrop of yen depreciation and high raw material costs. Fruit juice prices increased by 32.1%, rice crackers by 19.1%, and rice balls by 8.3%. Hotel charges also rose by 19.9% due to an increase in foreign tourists.
Source: TBS