Recently, the yen has once again fallen into depreciation. On a certain date, in the international foreign exchange market, the yen's exchange rate against the US dollar dropped to a new low since this year's month, briefly falling below yen to the dollar. The prolonged yen depreciation has increased the cost of imported goods and raw materials for Japan, leading to continuous price hikes in the country.

The latest monthly core consumer price index (CPI) in Japan, excluding fresh food, released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, rose by 3.6% year-on-year to 106.4, marking a continuous year-on-year increase for 17 consecutive months. Among them, the rise in food prices has become the main driving force for the upward trend. The report shows that prices of grains, fresh vegetables, and other items have increased significantly. The prices of fruits and vegetables such as pears (up 10.2%) and tomatoes (up 13.6%) have seen a notable rise due to the intense heat, with rice prices surging by 4.6%, the highest increase in 13 years.

The rise in prices has had a significant impact on the lives of Japanese people, with food expenditure accounting for an increasing proportion of total household consumption. According to a recent survey by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Engel coefficient for households with two or more people in Japan this year reached .%, the highest level since 1995. The increase in food prices has placed financial pressure on Japanese families. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications noted that, affected by rising prices, Japanese households have shown a tendency to reduce the purchase of vegetables, fruits, and meats.

Although the monthly data for Japan has not yet been released, a survey released earlier by the Japan Imperial Database Company shows that a significant increase in prices is expected in Japan this month, with the number of food items set to rise potentially reaching a new monthly high for the year. The company's survey indicates that over 6,500 food items will see price increases in Japan in the months of October, November, and December. Specifically, 1,051 food items will increase in price in October, with 3,452 and 2,022 items expected to see price adjustments in November and December, respectively.

According to the Japan Imperial Database Company, the month with the highest number of food price increases in Japan this year was [month], with [number] items. It is expected that the number of food price increases in [month] will exceed that of [month]. The food items involved in price increases in [month] include meat products, cooking oil, snacks, and infant formula, among others. Notably, "alcoholic beverages and drinks," centered on plastic bottle beverages, accounted for as many as [number] items.

The Japan Imperial Database Company stated that the depreciation of the yen has led to a rise in raw material costs and increased labor costs, jointly driving up the prices of food and other goods, significantly impacting consumers.