Food prices in Japan increased 3.6% year-on-year in March 2026, slowing from a 4.0% gain in the prior month and marking the mildest pace since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (3.5% vs 7.3% vs in February), fish and seafood (5.8% vs 7.2%), dairy products and eggs (5.4% vs 7.5%), and oils, fats, and seasonings (4.0% vs 5.3%). Among staples, rice prices increased 6.8% from a year earlier, sharply slowing from a 17.1% rise in February and marking the slowest gain since February 2024, following efforts by Tokyo to ease persistent upward pressure seen last year. At the same time, prices continued to decline for fresh vegetables (-10.5% vs -9.0%) and fresh fruit (-7.4% vs -10.7%). In contrast, inflation held steady for cakes and candies (8.1% vs 8.1%), while accelerating for meats (3.8% vs 3.7%), prepared foods (5.2% vs 4.9%), beverages (9.8% vs 9.1%), alcoholic beverages (5.1% vs 5.0%), and meals eaten out (3.9% vs 3.7%). source: Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications

Cost of food in Japan increased 3.60 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in Japan averaged 2.83 percent from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 31.60 percent in February of 1974 and a record low of -3.70 percent in November of 1999. This page provides the latest reported value for - Japan Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Japan Food Inflation - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on April of 2026.

Cost of food in Japan increased 3.60 percent in March of 2026 over the same month in the previous year. Food Inflation in Japan is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Food Inflation is projected to trend around 2.20 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
CPI Clothes and Footwear 112.40 111.20 points Mar 2026
Inflation Rate Ex-Food and Energy YoY 2.40 2.50 percent Mar 2026
CPI Education 95.90 95.80 points Mar 2026
CPI Food 128.70 129.00 points Mar 2026
CPI Housing Utilities 104.60 104.60 points Mar 2026
CPI Recreation and Culture 116.90 115.80 points Mar 2026
CPI Transportation and Communication 101.50 99.80 points Mar 2026
Food Inflation 3.60 4.00 percent Mar 2026
Goods Inflation 1.50 1.20 percent Mar 2026
Inflation Rate YoY 1.50 1.30 percent Mar 2026
Inflation Rate MoM 0.40 -0.20 percent Mar 2026
Rent Inflation 0.60 0.50 percent Mar 2026
Services Inflation 1.40 1.40 percent Mar 2026
Tokyo Core CPI YoY 1.70 1.80 percent Mar 2026
Tokyo CPI YoY 1.40 1.50 percent Mar 2026
Tokyo CPI Ex Food and Energy YoY 2.30 2.50 percent Mar 2026


Japan Food Inflation
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.60 4.00 31.60 -3.70 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Food Prices Rise the Least in 17 Months
Food prices in Japan increased 3.6% year-on-year in March 2026, slowing from a 4.0% gain in the prior month and marking the mildest pace since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (3.5% vs 7.3% vs in February), fish and seafood (5.8% vs 7.2%), dairy products and eggs (5.4% vs 7.5%), and oils, fats, and seasonings (4.0% vs 5.3%). Among staples, rice prices increased 6.8% from a year earlier, sharply slowing from a 17.1% rise in February and marking the slowest gain since February 2024, following efforts by Tokyo to ease persistent upward pressure seen last year. At the same time, prices continued to decline for fresh vegetables (-10.5% vs -9.0%) and fresh fruit (-7.4% vs -10.7%). In contrast, inflation held steady for cakes and candies (8.1% vs 8.1%), while accelerating for meats (3.8% vs 3.7%), prepared foods (5.2% vs 4.9%), beverages (9.8% vs 9.1%), alcoholic beverages (5.1% vs 5.0%), and meals eaten out (3.9% vs 3.7%).
2026-04-23
Japan Food Inflation Lingers Near 15-Month Low
Food prices in Japan rose 4.0% year-on-year in February 2026, slightly accelerating from a 3.9% increase in the prior month. Despite the uptick, price growth remained close to its slowest pace since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (7.3% vs 12.0% in January), meats (3.7% vs 3.8%), fish and seafood (7.2% vs 7.9%), cakes and candies (8.1% vs 8.2%), meals eaten out (3.7% vs 3.9%), and prepared foods (4.9% vs 5.0%). At the same time, prices continued to decline for fresh vegetables (-9.0% vs -14.0%) and fresh fruit (-10.7% vs -10.4%). Among staples, rice prices increased 17.1% from a year earlier, notably slowing from a 27.9% rise in January and posting the slowest increase in 21 months following efforts from Tokyo to ease persistent upward pressure seen last year. Simultaneously, inflation accelerated for dairy products and eggs (7.5% vs 7.4%), oils, fats, and seasonings (5.3% vs 4.8%), beverages (9.1% vs 7.8%), and alcoholic beverages (5.0% vs 4.9%).
2026-03-23
Japan Food Prices Rise the Least in 15 Months
Food prices in Japan increased by 3.9% year-on-year in January 2026, slowing from a 5.1% gain in the previous month and marking the slowest rise since October 2024. Costs moderated for cereals (12.0% vs 14.7% in December), meats (3.8% vs 4.7%), dairy products and eggs (7.4% vs 7.8%), cakes and candies (8.2% vs 8.6%), meals eaten out (3.9% vs 4.0%), and prepared foods (5.0% vs 5.7%). At the same time, prices fell much steeper for fresh vegetables (-14.0% vs -7.1%) and fresh fruit (-10.4% vs -5.8%). Among staples, rice prices increased 27.9% from a year earlier, slowing from a 34.4% rise in December and posting the slowest increase in 18 months amid continued efforts from Tokyo to cool persistent upward pressure on staple food costs. Simultaneously, inflation accelerated for fish and seafood (7.9% vs 6.6%), oils, fats, and seasonings (4.8% vs 4.5%), beverages (7.8% vs 7.7%), and alcoholic beverages (4.9% vs 4.7%).
2026-02-19