Japan’s supermarket rice prices dip for first time in 3 weeks
Japan’s agriculture ministry reports rice prices fell 0.7% in late August to 3,776 yen (\$26) per 5 kg bag, marking the first decline in three weeks. Increased supplies from government stockpiles eased prices, especially for blended rice, which now makes up 45% of sales, while premium single-origin varieties rose slightly.
The latest survey by Japan’s agriculture ministry shows rice prices fell for the first time in three weeks in August.
The decline came as more supplies of lower-priced grain from government stockpiles reached store shelves.
The ministry released the survey results on Monday. It covered 1,000 supermarkets nationwide in the week through August 24.
The average price of a 5-kilogram bag came in at 3,776 yen, or about 26 dollars. That’s down 0.7 percent from the previous week.
The government started releasing supplies from stockpiles after retail prices of the staple food surged over the past year.
Prices for blended rice and other types, including from stockpiles, fell 0.3 percent. The price of single origin brand varieties gained 0.09 percent.
Blended rice and other types accounted for 45 percent of total sales, up 3 percentage points.
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Source : NHK
