TOKYO, Dec 27 – A Japanese research institute said Friday that 20,609 food and beverage products were subject to price increases in 2025, mainly due to rising ingredient and labor costs, highlighting the growing burden on households.
Occurring against the backdrop of a weakening yen, it marks the first time the number of affected products has exceeded 20,000 since 2023, when it reached 32,396, according to Teikoku Databank Ltd.
Condiments saw the largest numerical increase, at 6,221, followed by beverage items at 4,901, impacted by higher coffee bean prices, and processed food products, including packaged rice, at 4,791.
The highest rise in prices was recorded in beverage and snack products, at 18 percent, driven by rising chocolate prices amid soaring cacao bean costs. The average rate of increase stood at 15 percent, down from 17 percent the previous year.
Teikoku said 3,593 products would be subject to price increases between January and April, a sharp decline from 6,121 reported in December 2024 for the same period. However, a trend toward passing on higher costs has been strengthening amid rising service-related expenses, including logistics and labor costs.
“Sticky price hikes, in which prices are raised in a steady cycle, are likely to continue,” a Teikoku official said.
