Japan’s food prices increased 3.5% year-on-year in May 2026, matching April’s pace and remaining at their slowest pace since October 2024. Costs continued to rise for fish and seafood (5.5% vs 5.8% in April), meat (3.5% vs 4.4%), dairy products and eggs (3.6% vs 4.9%), oils, fats, and seasonings (3.9% vs 4.2%), cakes and candies (8.1% vs 7.7%), prepared foods (4.4% vs 4.8%), beverages (8.7% vs 9.4%), alcoholic beverages (0.2% vs 0.9%), and meals eaten out (1.0% vs 1.1%). At the same time, fresh vegetable prices rebounded after five consecutive months of declines (3.8% vs -2.2%), while cereal prices fell for the first time since December 2021 (-0.9% vs 1.2%) and fresh fruit prices stayed in deflation (-1.6% vs -3.6%). Among staple foods, rice prices declined 4.9% from a year earlier, marking their first annual drop since November 2022.

Octalas AI

Profit

Everyone's racing to cut costs. We're racing to create profit.

Start Selling through Service

Start Trial

Free for 14 days · No credit card required