Japan’s core consumer prices fell again in July, down at a quicker pace than any time in the past two and half years despite the government’s hope of forcing Japan back into inflation. Despite this, many foods and some other essentials continue to become more expensive, while wages stagnate, further increasing pressure on middle and lower income households and pushing spending down.
Initial results for 2025 suggest real wages in Japan were down for the fourth consecutive year. Initial figures from MHLW show a 0.8% overall decline, alongside a 1.3% fall in wages adjusted for CPI excluding imputed rents, which provides a clearer picture of how hard wage changes are likely to hit households. Wage increases are…
Wholesale inflation slowed for a fifth month in a row in May 2023 thanks to falling fuel and commodity prices. The CGPI (Corporate goods price index) was still up 5.1% compared to the same month in 2022, but this is lower than the Bank of Japan’s median monthly forecast of 5.5% and follows a 5.9%…
Bankruptcy cases in Japan reached a 12-year peak in 2025, with 10,300 companies facing closure due to rising raw material costs and labour shortages. The challenging economic environment, marked by inflation and a tight job market, is expected to keep the Bank of Japan under pressure to raise interest rates. Labour shortages were cited by…
Egg prices continue to soar in Japan, reaching a record high with a 20% increase compared to the previous year’s levels. Rising production costs, including feed expenses, and the spread of avian influenza domestically have contributed to this trend. As a result, the affordability of eggs, once easily purchased, is now becoming a challenge for…
