Japan supermarket rice prices drop to 5-month low
The agriculture ministry on Monday released its weekly survey of about 1,000 supermarkets nationwide for the period through June 29.
The average price of a 5-kilogram bag declined more than 3 percent from the previous week to 3,672 yen including tax, or about 25 dollars. But that is still about 63 percent higher than a year earlier.
The price of blended rice and other types including grain from government stockpiles fell 4 percent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
22 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Premiums and wages at heart of social security debate ahead of Upper House vote
Political parties have pledged to reduce social security premiums and raise salaries for medical and nursing care workers in their campaigning for the July 20 election for the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of parliament. The pledges come as premiums have been rising because of an aging population and higher prices. Since benefits and burdens come as a set, it is essential for the parties to identify a concrete path to realize the reform. Social security benefits swelled from ¥78.4 trillion in fiscal 2000 to ¥137.8 trillion in fiscal 2022, while social security premiums grew from ¥26.7 trillion to ¥40.7 trillion, according to the welfare ministry's National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. For this reason, the government aims to increase social security burdens on certain people, but such reform faces strong opposition. For example, the government had to freeze a plan to raise out-of-pocket payments for high-cost medical care due to a backlash from opposition parties and patient groups. Campaign pledges by Nippon Ishin no Kai put priority on reducing social security burdens on households. The opposition party promised to raise net income by ¥60,000 per person per year by reducing the country's medical expenses by ¥4 trillion annually. The reduction can be achieved including by cutting the number of excess hospital beds by around 110,000, Nippon Ishin said. The Democratic Party for the People, another opposition party, calls for raising out-of-pocket medical expenses for people who are 75 or older from the current 10%, in principle, to 20% to reduce the premiums for the working generation. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan seeks to set an upper limit on the total amount of out-of-pocket expenses for medical, nursing care and welfare services in accordance with the user's income. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party pledged to raise the official prices of medical and nursing care services to raise the wages of workers in the sectors. Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, called for raising the wages of nursing care and welfare workers to the average of all industries, at ¥386,000 per month. The proposal by the ruling coalition to raise the official prices of medical and other social security services would lead to an increase in premiums and tax burdens. Opposition parties' pledges to reduce premiums are also challenging in terms of how to secure financial resources. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who leads the LDP, said the government will consider establishing a suprapartisan panel on social security reform, stressing the need to discuss the issue without prioritizing the interests of parties. Through such discussion, both ruling and opposition parties need to foster a common understanding that social security reform requires painful measures, experts said.
NHK
3 hours ago
- NHK
Trump vows to stick to new tariff deadline
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his new August 1 deadline for what he calls "reciprocal" tariffs is firm, and he will not grant any extensions. Trump made the announcement on social media where he added that "all money will be due and payable" starting from the new date. He also warned that he will send more letters to other countries in the coming days. In a letter to Japan posted on Monday, Trump said his administration will charge Japan a 25 percent tariff rate if Tokyo does not reach a trade deal with the US. Trump said the figure is "far less" than what is needed to eliminate the "Trade Deficit disparity" with Tokyo. He also warned that if Japan hikes tariffs, the US will match that amount, and tack it onto the new rate. Trump has been accusing Tokyo of carrying out "unfair" trade practices, especially in the farm and auto sectors.
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent to visit Japan next week for Expo
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is planning to visit Japan next week for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, according to people familiar with the matter. The Expo is taking place in Osaka until mid-October, with the U.S. celebrating its National Day at the Expo on July 19. The visit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter on Monday stating his intention to raise tariffs on all Japanese imports to 25%, effective Aug. 1 — slightly higher than the 24% rate initially announced in April. The trip would also mark Bessent's first visit to Japan since the trade negotiations started in April. Tokyo's point man on trade talks, Ryosei Akazawa, has traveled to Washington seven times during that time. Bessent and Akazawa spoke on the phone for 30 minutes Tuesday following the issuing of Trump's letter, according to a statement by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement said the two officials had a frank, in-depth discussion and agreed to continue vigorous consultations. The statement didn't mention any upcoming visit to Japan. A senior U.S. official said the purpose of the trip to Japan is in Bessent's capacity as head of the American delegation to the Expo. There will be no formal bilateral meetings or discussions of trade, the official said. Treasury did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs were not immediately available for comment. Japan was initially seen as a promising partner for a quick deal, but the negotiations hit a roadblock over car tariffs. The sector accounts for more than 80% of the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, while it's a key employer and growth engine for the Japanese economy.
