ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS – The core consumer price index (CPI) for Tokyo’s 23 special wards rose 2.2 per cent in February compared to the same month last year, marking a slowdown in growth for the first time in four months, according to government data.
Excluding volatile fresh food prices, the index stood at 108.5, based on the 2020 benchmark of 100, the Internal Affairs Ministry reported.
Despite the index increasing for 42 consecutive months, the rate of growth moderated after the government resumed subsidies to ease the burden of electricity and gas bills on consumers.
However, food prices kept rising. Of them, rice prices jumped 77.5 per cent, logging a record increase for the fifth straight month.
Energy prices climbed 6.9 per cent, smaller than the previous month’s 13.3 per cent. With the resumption of the subsidies in January, growth in electricity and city gas prices shrank to 9.0 per cent from 17.5 per cent and to 3.7 per cent from 10.5 per cent. Prices of food excluding fresh food advanced 5.0 per cent. While rice prices continued rising due to strong demand, chocolate prices soared 32.6 per cent, the largest increase in 50 years.
Fresh food prices jumped 18.4 per cent, showing double-digit expansion for the third straight month. The overall CPI including fresh food prices rose 2.9 per cent, and the index excluding fresh food and energy prices climbed 1.9 per cent.
