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In May 2026, the inflation rate in Japan stood at *** percent. The term inflation means the devaluation of money caused by a permanent increase of the price level for goods and services. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the price development for private expenses and shows the current level of inflation when it increases.

Rising consumer prices since 2022

Since the economic downturn in the 1990s, consumer prices in Japan have remained stagnant. Many Japanese consumers have never experienced a significant rise in cost of living, as the country had been struggling with deflationary pressures for over three decades. In the last years, this has changed drastically. Consumers have been confronted with rising prices since 2022, driven by global tensions and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Japan’s CPI recorded a *** percent growth in 2024, real household consumption expenditure »å±ð³¦±ô¾±²Ô±ð»å.Ìý

Consumer inflation in 2024

Annual inflation decreased from *** percent in 2023, the highest level recorded since 1991. A look at the price growth of major categories in the CPI shows that prices for ** saw the largest increases in 2024, followed by **** and . Fresh food prices, which rose by percent, were at the core of the food price growth. **, *, and ** such as rice, bread, and noodles, were among the major contributors to Japan’s inflation. Rice prices jumped significantly in 2024. The staple food continued to see drastic price hikes in 2025.