Japan Core Consumer Prices Rise 3.7 Pct in May

   Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.7 pct in May from a year earlier, as prices of rice and other food products continued to soar, government data showed Friday.
   The core consumer price index, which excludes often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 111.4 against the 2020 base of 100, growing for the 45th consecutive month, the internal affairs ministry said.
   Rice prices surged 101.7 pct, marking their steepest increase on record for the eighth straight month.
   Food prices excluding fresh items jumped 7.7 pct, up for 10 months in a row.
   The survey only covers single-origin brand rice and does not reflect prices of blended rice, including stockpiled rice released by the government to curb soaring rice prices. This partly led to the continued increase in rice prices. Prices for "onigiri" rice balls rose 19.2 pct, and sushi prices grew 6.3 pct.

(2025/06/20-13:43)