Key Facts
• Tokyo’s August consumer price index rose 2.5% year-on-year.
• Excluding fresh food, the composite index reached 110.6.
• Price growth slowed by 0.4 percentage points from July, marking four months of decline.
• Free water basic fees in Tokyo reduced water costs by 34.6% over summer.
• National subsidies cut electricity costs by 6.5% and city gas by 6.0%.
• Food prices surged: rice up 67.9%, coffee beans 45.9%, chocolate 56.0%.
• Fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, rose 4.8% due to heatwave-related poor growth.
• Mobile phone communication fees increased by 13.2%.
Summary
Tokyo’s consumer price index for August rose 2.5% compared to the previous year, with the composite index excluding fresh food reaching 110.6. The growth rate slowed for the fourth consecutive month, decreasing by 0.4 percentage points from July. Measures such as free water basic fees in Tokyo and national subsidies for electricity and gas usage helped curb costs, with water fees dropping 34.6%, electricity 6.5%, and city gas 6.0%. However, food prices continued to climb, with significant increases in rice (67.9%), coffee beans (45.9%), and chocolate (56.0%). Fresh vegetables, including tomatoes, rose 4.8% due to heatwave-induced poor growth. Mobile phone communication fees also saw a 13.2% increase.
