Japan Inflation Rate

Japan’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.9% in September 2025 from August’s 10-month low of 2.7%. The increase was driven by the first rise in electricity prices in three months (3.2% vs -7.2%) and a rebound in gas costs (1.6% vs -2.7%), after the expiry of temporary government measures launched to offset summer heat. Price growth also persisted across most categories, including housing (1.0% vs 1.1%), clothing (2.5% vs 2.9%), transport (3.0% vs 3.0%), household items (1.0% vs 2.0%), healthcare (1.2% vs 1.3%), recreation (2.0% vs 2.3%), communications (6.7% vs 7.0%), and miscellaneous goods (0.7% vs 1.3%), while education costs fell further (-5.6% vs -5.6%). On the food side, prices increased 6.7% yoy, easing from a 7.2% rise in August and marking the softest gain in four months, largely due to the smallest rise in rice prices in a year (49.2%) amid Tokyo’s continued efforts to contain staple food costs. Core inflation came in at 2.9%, matching consensus and rising from the prior 2.7%.