Japan's Core Consumer Prices Rise 3.5 Pct in April

   Tokyo, May 23 (Jiji Press)--Japan's core consumer price index rose 3.5 pct in April from a year before, marking the steepest increase in two years and three months amid soaring prices for rice and other food products, government data showed Friday.
   The core CPI, which excludes often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 110.9 against the 2020 base of 100, growing for the 44th straight month, the internal affairs ministry said.
   Rice prices surged 98.4 pct, logging the seventh consecutive month of the steepest increase on record.
   Food prices excluding fresh items jumped 7.0 pct, up for the ninth successive month.
   Although the Japanese government has started releasing stockpiled rice, its effect to curb retail rice prices did not spread sufficiently. Prices for "onigiri" rice balls grew 18.1 pct, and sushi prices rose 5.0 pct. Among other food items, chocolate prices soared 31.0 pct, and prices for coffee beans jumped 24.8 pct.

(2025/05/23-13:23)