Consumer price rises accelerated in April amid climbing costs for food in Japan.
The internal affairs ministry says the consumer price index excluding fresh food rose 3.4% in April from a year earlier. The increase was the first such monthly acceleration in 3 months.
Consumer price increases climbed to the fastest in four decades in January, then moderated in February and March.
A series of price hikes meant that shoppers paid 9% more last month for food, excluding fresh items.
The rate of increase in that category rose to the fastest in almost 47 years.
Household gas bills rose by 5%. But the pace of increase shrunk to half that of March.
Meanwhile, household electricity bills dropped by 9.3% due to government subsidies.