Japan February Consumer Prices Up 2.8%... Increase Rate Expands Compared to January

Japan's consumer price index (excluding fresh food) rose by 2.8% year-on-year in February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced on the 22nd.

The February increase was 0.8 percentage points higher compared to the previous month. The rise in food prices and accommodation costs appears to be the main factors driving the inflation increase. Last month, food prices excluding fresh food rose by 5.3%, and accommodation costs jumped by as much as 33%.

Kyodo News noted, "As the government's electricity and city gas support program marks its first year, the effect of this policy in curbing inflation has diminished."

Japan's consumer prices have risen for 30 consecutive months.